By Courtney Kube -
NBC News
WASHINGTON - About 12,000 active duty Air Force and Space Force members did not receive the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine before Tuesday's deadline set by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, according to the authorities.
The unvaccinated staff represents around 3%
of the 326,000 active duty members
of these two branches of the armed forces, which together have achieved a 97% vaccination rate, much higher than that of the general public.
Military authorities have not yet determined what specific consequences there will be for the thousands of members who did not comply with the order.
[CDC Advisors Recommend Pfizer Vaccine For Children 5-11 Years - Doses Are On The Way]
Officials explained that very few of those 12,000 service members who have not been vaccinated applied for medical or religious exemptions. Most simply have not reported their status. Very few exemptions have been granted so far, all for medical reasons, according to officials.
No branch of the military has yet approved religious exemptions
.
“Any refusal to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, without an approved medical or administrative exemption, may be punishable under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ).
Military commanders retain the full range of disciplinary options available to them under article 92 of the UCMJ and should consult with their Defense Judge of the General Staff for additional guidance on noncompliance with vaccination, ”said a Department of Defense official to our sister network NBC News.
A member of the military receives a COVID-19 vaccine at the Pearl Harbor Naval Base on February 9, 2021. Tech.
Sgt. Anthony Nelson / AP
“Our goal is to ensure that as many airmen and guards as possible receive the vaccine.
Military commanders have a variety of options available to encourage their service members to receive the vaccine.
It is about protecting the health of the force, not about punishing ”.
It is about protecting the health of the force, not about punishing "
Defense department official
The next COVID-19 vaccination deadline for service members is November 28, when all active duty Sailors and Marines will need to have been vaccinated or received an exemption.
Active duty members of the Army must be vaccinated by December 15.
Combined, the Navy, Marine Corps, and Army have more than one million active duty service members.
Austin issued a memorandum in August directing the heads of all branches of the military to
ensure that their service members are vaccinated and set "ambitious deadlines"
to meet this goal.
