SECDEF Austin Memo on Mandatory Vaccinations for COVID-19 Service Members



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The following is the Department of Defense memorandum of August 24, 2021 ordering the mandatory vaccination of the United States military against COVID-19.

From the memo

August 24, 2021

MEMORANDUM FOR THE MAIN COMMANDERS OF THE PENTAGON LEADERSHIP OF THE COMBAT COMMANDS DEFENSE AGENCY AND DIRECTORS OF DOD FIELD ACTIVITIES

SUBJECT: Compulsory vaccination against coronavirus disease 2019 for members of the service of the Ministry of Defense

To defend this Nation, we need a healthy and ready force. After careful consultation with medical experts and military leaders, and with the support of the President, I have determined that mandatory vaccination against coronavirus disease 2019 (COY 10-19) is necessary to protect the Force and defend the people American.

Mandatory vaccinations are familiar to all of our servicemen, and mission critical inoculation is almost as old as the US military itself. Our administration of safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines has produced admirable results to date, and I know the Department of Defense will come together to complete the job, with urgency, professionalism and compassion.

I therefore order the secretaries of the military departments to immediately begin the full vaccination of all members of the armed forces under DoD authority on active duty or in the ready reserve, including the National Guard, who are not fully vaccinated against COVJD-19.

Military personnel are considered fully immunized two weeks after completing the second dose of a two-dose COVID-19 vaccine or two weeks after receiving a single dose of a single-dose vaccine. People who have already been infected with COVID-19 are not considered to be fully vaccinated.

Mandatory COVID-19 vaccination will only use COVID-19 vaccines that receive a full license from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), in accordance with FDA approved labeling and guidelines. Service members voluntarily immunized with a COVID-19 vaccine under FDA Emergency Use Clearance or World Health Organization Emergency Use List in accordance with dose requirements applicable before or after the establishment of this policy are considered fully immunized. Service members who actively participate in COVID-19 clinical trials are exempt from mandatory COVID-19 vaccination until the end of the trial to avoid invalidating these clinical trial results.

Mandatory immunization requirements will be implemented in accordance with DoD Instruction 6205.02, “DoD Immunization Program,” July 23, 2019. Military departments should use existing policies and procedures to manage mandatory military immunization as required. possible. Compulsory vaccination of the military will be subject to any identified contraindication and any administrative or other exemption established in the policy of the military department. Military departments may promulgate appropriate guidelines to fulfill the requirements stated above. The Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Preparedness can provide additional guidance to implement and comply with FDA requirements or Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations.

Secretaries of military departments should impose ambitious implementation deadlines. Military departments will report regularly on vaccination completion using established systems for other mandatory vaccine reporting.

Our Force vaccination will save lives. Thank you for focusing on this crucial mission.

[signed]

Lloyd P. Austin III

Download the document here

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