60,000 US soldiers to face “adverse actions” for refusing COVID-19 vaccine

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – Around 40,000 National Guard and 22,000 Reserve soldiers will be subject to “adverse administrative actions,” including the loss of pay and benefits because they refused to be vaccinated against COVID-19, Military news reports.

US soldiers were already mandated to take a wide range of vaccines, including Hepatitis B, Influenza, Measles, Meningococcal, Poliovirus and Tetanus-Diphtheria, and are now required to take a vaccine for COVID-19 as well.

Army National Guard and Reserve soldiers were informed that the deadline to receive the COVID-19 vaccine was June 30, although the vaccine was mandated last year, Military news said.

Currently, 13% of the Army Guard and 12% of the Reserve remained unvaccinated for the virus.

“Soldiers who refuse the vaccination order without an approved or pending exemption request are subject to adverse administrative actions, including flags, bars to service, and official reprimands,” the US Army said in a statement.

“In the future, Soldiers who continue to refuse the vaccination order without an exemption may be subject to additional adverse administrative action, including separation,” the Army said.

Some 3,000 National Guard and Reserve soldiers requested an exemption on religious grounds, but no such request has been approved, Military news said. Six out of 53 Guard soldiers who requested one received an exemption on medical grounds. No Reserve soldiers received a medical exemption.

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