According to Air Force data, as many as 12,000 active duty airmen and guardians were still unvaccinated as of late last week. The more than 335,000 airmen and Space Force guardians must be fully vaccinated by Tuesday, and the Air Guard and Reserve by Dec.
The Air Force may be the test case in some instances, because they are the first to hit a deadline.
Unvaccinated troops will also be subject to routine testing, distancing guidelines and possibly travel restrictions. The other services are expected to follow similar procedures. The Navy has warned that sailors who refuse the shot and don’t get an exemption may have to refund bonuses and other financial payments, based on existing military justice procedures for disobeying a lawful order. “Each case is going to be treated specifically and individually as it ought to be,” he said. They have declined to say how many troops are still seeking an exemption or refused the vaccine.Īsked about possible variations in the treatment of those seeking exemptions or refusing the vaccine, Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said it’s up to the services. Officials say the numbers change daily, and include those who may have gotten or requested an exemption. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has called for compassion in dealings with those troops, which totals nearly 60,000 active duty service members, according to data released last week. The military services are reporting between 1%-7% remain unvaccinated. But unlike most civilians, military personnel are routinely required to get as many as 17 vaccines, and face penalties for refusing.
Military vaccination rates are higher than those of the general population in the United States and the reasons for objecting – often based on misinformation – are similar to those heard throughout the country. “Because of some of the sensitivities of this particular vaccine, I think that we just wanted to ensure that we were consistent and equitable” in meting out a punishment that would be “a repercussion of continuing to refuse a valid order.”
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