A third of US military refuse Covid vaccine

A third of US military refuse Covid vaccine

VACCINE: Military personnel administer jab to veterans in Baltimore. CREDIT: DOD

A third of US military refuse Covid vaccine, according to Pentagon officials.

ONE in three US military are declining the Covid vaccine despite the fact infection rates are high within the forces.

At a Congressional hearing, Major General Jeff Taliaferro revealed the US Defence Department maintains the classification of Covid vaccines as optional as the Federal Drug Administration has yet to give its full approval.

Stressing that the figures are based on “very early data”, he said the so far “somewhere in two-thirds of the territory” had been immunised.

Pentagon Spokesman John Kirby said that by the end of the week, more than a million members of the military will have received the jab.

He told reporters that the “military basically mirrors the acceptance rates of American society”, adding that while the Pentagon makes most vaccinations mandatory for military personnel, the fact the Covid vaccines have only been approved on an emergency level, they cannot be forced upon people.

“What the secretary wants is for the men and women of the department to make the best and most informed decision for them and their health and the health of their families,” said Kirby.

It was pointed out to press that the Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin has been vaccinated.

Military personnel along with the National Guard have been helping administer the vaccination.


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Tara Rippin

Tara Rippin is a reporter for Spain’s largest English-speaking newspaper, Euro Weekly News, and is responsible for the Costa Blanca region.
She has been in journalism for more than 20 years, having worked for local newspapers in the Midlands, UK, before relocating to Spain in 1990.
Since arriving, the mother-of-one has made her home on the Costa Blanca, while spending 18 months at the EWN head office in Fuengirola on the Costa del Sol.
She loves being part of a community that has a wonderful expat and Spanish mix, and strives to bring the latest and most relevant news to EWN’s loyal and valued readers.

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