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The Pentagon is demanding that all civilian employees be fully immunized against COVID-19 by November 22 – a decision affecting more than 700,000 people.
The Pentagon had previously ordered all 1.3 million active duty members to be vaccinated against the coronavirus. To date, over 93% have received at least one dose.
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But Fox News has obtained a note signed by Assistant Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks, which orders civilian employees to be vaccinated as well.
“All civilian DoD employees must be fully immunized by November 22, 2021, subject to exemptions required by law,” Hicks wrote, noting that employees are considered fully immunized two weeks after completing the second dose. a two-dose COVID-19 vaccine. , like Pfizer-BioNtech or Moderna, or two weeks after receiving a single dose of a single dose COVID-19 vaccine, like Johnson & Johnson.
“New civilian DoD employees must be fully immunized by their in-service (start) date or November 22, 2021, whichever is later,” Hicks wrote.
Hicks cited the executive order that President Biden signed last month, ordering all executive agencies to implement a COVID-19 vaccine requirement for federal employees to “ensure the health and safety of the federal workforce and members of the public with whom they interact ”.
The Pentagon Building in Arlington, Va. On October 9, 2020 (REUTERS / Carlos Barria / File Photo)
(REUTERS / Carlos Barria / File photo)
In the note, Hicks said those who are not currently fully vaccinated must meet several deadlines.
For those who receive their first dose of Moderna, individuals have until October 11 to do so, those who receive Pfizer have until October 18. Hicks said individuals should receive their second dose of Moderna or Pfizer by November 8.
Civilian workers have until Nov. 8 to receive their single dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
Hicks said employees “must be prepared to provide a copy of their COVID-19 vaccine record in order to meet upcoming DoD COVID-19 vaccine verification procedures.”
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Hicks added that additional guidelines, including procedures for processing immunization exemption requests, will be released.
“Vaccinating civilian DoD employees against COVID-19 will save lives and enable the defense of our nation,” Hicks wrote. “Thank you for focusing on this crucial mission. “
Despite some concerns about vaccine mandates, the Justice Department’s legal counsel’s office determined over the summer that federal law does not prohibit public agencies and private businesses from requiring COVID vaccines. -19 subject to emergency use authorization (EUA).
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The opinion notes that some have questioned whether these entities can legally impose such requirements.
In the opinion, the DOJ legal adviser’s office says the emergency use authorization law “does not prohibit public or private entities from imposing vaccine requirements, even when vaccines alone available are those permitted under the USA “.
The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine was fully approved by the Food and Drug Administration in August.
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