Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said on Monday that Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin honored his oath earlier this month to require vaccination once the vaccine is approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
Kirby said that guidelines are being developed and a timetable will be provided in the coming days.
In a memo on August 9th, Austin stated that he would seek the president’s approval to compulsory vaccination “
Kirby said the move is to ensure the safety of service personnel. Worries about the virus are particularly serious in the military. Soldiers live and work closely in barracks and on ships, increasing the risk of rapid spread. Any large-scale virus outbreak in the military may affect the ability of the United States to defend itself in any security crisis.
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