Pentagon announces mandatory vaccination for military

OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 1:03 PM PT – Tuesday, August 10, 2021

The Pentagon announced requirements for all members of the military to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Pentagon Spokesman John Kirby announced the plan on Monday and highlighted the military was in compliance with Joe Biden’s direction.

“You can consider this memo today as what we would call in the military a warning order. A warning order to the force that this is coming and we want you to be ready for it as well,” he stated. “Obviously, we’d prefer that you get the vaccine now and not wait for the mandate.”

In a memo, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced employees of the Department of Defense would have until September 15 to get the COVID-19 vaccination.

Austin went on to say, “I will not hesitate to act sooner or recommend a different course.”

.@PentagonPresSec gives an update on COVID-19 vaccines within the Force. pic.twitter.com/kPXOdihs0n

— Department of Defense 🇺🇸 (@DeptofDefense) August 9, 2021

Kirby reiterated the secretary’s sentiments by saying the military was following Biden’s recommendations.

“We are going to be developing policies to comply with the president’s direction that the unvaccinated will have to be subjected to certain requirements and restrictions,” he explained. “…We’re working hard on what will be a policy directive to come in the coming days that will make it clear what those requirements and restrictions are and how they apply to everybody in the duty workforce, including uniformed personnel.”

Those who would be resistant to receiving the shot may be faced with obstacles and punishments. Austin said the military would comply with Biden’s “direction regarding additional restrictions and requirements for unvaccinated federal personnel.”

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