The United States Army began this Wednesday (2) to expel the more than 3,000 soldiers who refused to be vaccinated against Covid-19.
Army Secretary Christine Wormuth has issued an order to initiate “involuntary administrative separation” of military personnel who refuse to be immunized against the coronavirus and have no exemption.
“Unvaccinated military personnel pose a risk to the force and jeopardize its readiness,” Wormuth said in the document, which urges commanders to carry out the order “as soon as possible.”
According to Army figures, as of January 26, 96% of servicemen active in this branch of the Armed Forces were fully vaccinated, while 3,350 rejected immunization and received an official reprimand. In addition, about 5,900 received a temporary exemption.
The Army declares that those who have applied for an exemption on medical or religious grounds and whose cases have not yet been analyzed are excluded from the order until their requests are studied.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered in August of last year that all military personnel, both active and retired, be vaccinated in accordance with US President Joe Biden’s order that all federal employees be immunized against Covid-19.
Still, Austin allowed each branch of the military to set its own deadlines: both the Navy and Air Force began discharging unvaccinated military personnel in December.
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