A Washington Post report published over the weekend showed that about 40,000 of active US military personnel (about 3%) refused President Joe Biden’s government demand for Covid-19 vaccination or requested one. long-term exemption for not getting vaccinated.
The deadline for active-duty personnel in the Army expires next Wednesday (15). In the case of the Navy and Marines, the deadline was November 28, and in the Air Force, November 2nd.
Also according to the report, the Pentagon is considering two hypotheses: as requests for exemption are denied (in forces whose deadlines have already expired, many are still being processed), more soldiers should choose to be vaccinated; and expel from the ranks those who do not comply with the vaccination requirement, even though some of the approximately 40,000 active soldiers in this condition are already planning to leave the armed forces.
On Friday (10), the Pentagon press secretary, John Kirby, reported that 96.4% of the active workforce received at least one dose and 90% are fully vaccinated. Across the entire armed forces — including reserve and National Guard — nearly 74 percent are fully vaccinated, Kirby said.
“We know that there is more work to be done and some deadlines that have not yet expired. But the expectation of the secretary (of Defense, Lloyd Austin) is, as this is a mandatory requirement of military readiness, that everyone will receive the vaccine, with the exception of those, of course, who are duly excused, either by medical order or for an exemption application that was accepted”, added the press secretary.
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