Hundreds of thousands of U.S. soldiers still unvaccinated before first vaccine deadline: report

Hundreds of thousands of U.S. soldiers have yet to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as the first vaccination deadline approaches for several branches of the military.

Active-duty members of the Navy and Marine Corps have until November 28 to show proof of full vaccination against COVID-19. Timelines differ from branch to branch of the military and, as the Washington Post reported, vaccination rates also differ.

In the Air Force alone, 60,000 staff have yet to be fully immunized three weeks before the branch’s Nov. 2 deadline.

Currently, 90% of active-duty personnel in the Navy are fully immunized, while only 76.5% of active-duty personnel in the Marine Corps can say the same – and only 38% of reserve personnel in the Marine Corps, although the latter has an additional month to be fully immunized. . Members of the Army Reserve and the Army National Guard have until June 30, 2022 to be fully immunized.

Although they declined to say what was behind the delay in vaccinations, a Marine Corps spokesperson told the Post that there had been a 292% increase in the number of members vaccinated over the past six weeks following the announcement of the mandate.

The Post noted that COVID-19 deaths among the U.S. military have increased in recent months.

In July, President BidenJoe BidenBiden recalls General Odierno: “Some of our most poignant memories” Rebuilding better by investing in workers and communities Internal battles escalate over the Biden agenda MORE announced a vaccine requirement for federal government employees. Last week, the United States Office of Personnel Management said the federal vaccine mandate could be implemented from November 9.

The military defended its June deadline for reserve and guard immunizations, telling the Post the date reflected the size of the military relative to other branches.

Army spokesman Lt. Col. Terence Kelley said, “We expect all unvaccinated soldiers to receive the vaccine as soon as possible. Individual soldiers should receive the vaccine when available.

representing Ruben GallegoRuben GallegoThe Hill’s Morning Report – Brought to you by Facebook – Senate nears surprise deal on raising short-term debt ceiling Ruben Gallego is left-wing favorite to face Sinema Attacks on Sinema are growing personal PLUS (D-Arizona), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, called the military setting the deadline almost a year away as “shocking.”

“I think the military needs to take this seriously and their efforts to explain the problem” are irresponsible, Gallago told the Post. “You leave a lot of room for people who cannot be deployed. “