Pentagon to seek approval to make COVID-19 vaccines mandatory

WASHINGTON, Aug.9 (Reuters) – The Pentagon announced Monday that it will seek approval from U.S. President Joe Biden by mid-September to demand the military get vaccinated against COVID-19.

After establishing COVID-19 rules for federal workers, Biden last month asked the Pentagon to review “how and when” members of the military will need to take the vaccine.

The Department of Defense is targeting mid-September for a vaccination deadline based on the Food and Drug Administration’s expectations to fully approve the Pfizer Inc (PFE.N) and BioNTech SE (22UAy.DE) vaccines. Currently, it falls under an emergency use authorization.

“I strongly support Secretary (Lloyd) Austin’s message to the (military) today on the Defense Department’s plan to add the COVID-19 vaccine to the list of mandatory vaccinations for our military no later than mid -September, “Biden said in a statement.

The deadline could be pushed back if the FDA approves the vaccine sooner, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said in a note. Austin said he could act even sooner or recommend a different course if the situation worsened.

Two US officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the vaccine could have been immediately warranted but more than a month had been given in hopes of full FDA approval, which could reduce concerns about the safety of the vaccine.

America’s top infectious disease expert Dr Anthony Fauci said he hoped regulators could start granting full approval for vaccines as early as this month.

The US military says about half of the US military are already fully vaccinated, a number that increases dramatically by counting only active-duty troops and excluding the National Guard and reserve members.

Vaccination rates are highest in the Navy, which suffered from a high-profile outbreak last year aboard an aircraft carrier. About 73% of seafarers are fully vaccinated.

This compares to the US national average of about 60% of adults aged 18 and over who have been fully immunized.

Because U.S. troops are generally younger and in better shape, relatively few U.S. servicemen have died from COVID-19 – only 28 in total, according to Pentagon data.

Many Republicans in Congress have refused to say publicly whether they have been vaccinated, and some have called the shots unnecessary or dangerous.

Reporting by Idrees Ali; edited by Susan Heavey and Cynthia Osterman

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