COVID-19 Vaccines Required For All U.S.Troops

Members of the U.S. Military will be Required to get the COVID-19 Vaccine starting Sept. 15th.

Once the Vaccine is Mandated, a Refusal could Constitute Failure to Obey an Order, and may be Punishable under the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

The September Deadline could be Pushed-Up if the Vaccine receives Final FDA Approval or Infection Rates continue to Rise.

According to the Pentagon, more than 1 Million Troops are fully Vaccinated and another 237,000 have received One Shot

“I will seek the president’s approval to make the vaccines mandatory no later than mid-September, or immediately upon” Licensure by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) “whichever comes first,” Defense Secretary Austin, says in the Memo to Troops, Warning them to prepare for the Requirement.

“I will not hesitate to act sooner or recommend a different course to the President if l feel the need to do so," Austin said of the Possibility that Rising COVID Cases could impact Military Readiness. "To defend this Nation, we need a healthy and ready force."

Secretary's Austin’s Plan provides time for the FDA to give Final Approval to the Pfizer Vaccine, which is expected Early next month. Without that Formal Approval, Austin would need a Waiver from Biden to make the Shot(s) Mandatory, which Biden has made it clearShe supports.

Austin's Decision, comes a bit more than a week after Biden told Defense Officials to develop a Plan requiring Troops to get Shots as part of a Broader Campaign to Increase Vaccinations in the Federal Workforce. It reflects similar Decisions by Governments and Companies around the World, as Nations struggle with the highly Contagious Delta Variant that has sent New U.S. Cases, Hospitalizations, and Deaths, Surging to heights Not see since the Peaks last winter.

Austin said in his Memo says that the Military Services will have the next few weeks to Prepare, Determine how many Vaccines they need, and how this Mandate will be Implemented. The additional time, however, also is a nod to the bitter Political divisiveness over the Vaccine and the Knowledge that making it Mandatory will likely trigger Opposition from Vaccine Opponents across the State and Federal Governments, Congress, and the American Population.

Troops often Live and Work closely Together in Barracks and on Ships, increasing the Risks of Rapid Spreading. And any Large Outbreak of the Virus in the Military could affect America’s Ability to Defend itself in any National Security Crisis.

The decision will add the COVID-19 vaccine to a list of other inoculations that service members are already required to get. Depending on their location around the world, service members can get as many as 17 different vaccines.

Austin’s Memo also said that in the meantime, the Pentagon will Comply with Biden’s Order for Additional Restrictions on any Federal Personnel who have Not been Vaccinated. Those Restrictions will include: wearing Masks, Social Distancing, and Travel Limits.

Navy Officials said, last week, that there has been only One Case of COVID-19 Hospitalization among Sailors and Marines who are Fully Vaccinated.

In comparison, the Navy said there have been more than 123 Hospitalizations “in a similarly sized group of unvaccinated sailors and Marines.” It said fewer than 3% of its Immunized Troops have tested Positive for COVID-19.

The Other Military Services did Not provide Data.










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