US military orders active soldiers to be vaccinated by December

The US military announced on Tuesday that all active soldiers must be vaccinated against the coronavirus by December 15.

The development comes after the Pentagon said last month that all U.S. military personnel would be required to receive the COVID-19 vaccine after full approval of the Pfizer vaccine by the Food and Drug Administration.

“It is literally a matter of life and death for our soldiers, their families and the communities in which we live,” Lt. Gen. R. Scott Dingle, the US Army’s Surgeon General, said in a statement. .

“The number of cases and deaths continue to be of concern as the Delta variant spreads, making force protection through mandatory vaccination a health and readiness priority for the entire military. “said Dingle.

Soldiers can request medical or religious exemptions for the vaccine, the military said.

But soldiers without approved exemptions who refuse to be vaccinated may face penalties, including waiver of duty or dismissal, according to the military.

Army Reserve and National Guard units have a later vaccination deadline of June 30.