All U.S. military troops required to get COVID vaccine

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The clock is ticking for U.S. military troops.

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On Wednesday, the Pentagon announced troops must immediately get the COVID-19 vaccine following Pfizer’s official FDA approval.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is looking to impose ambitious timelines for implementation.

Requiring vaccines isn’t new for the military. Other vaccines for smallpox, hepatitis, polio, and the flu are mandated as well.

Hangar Bay Cafe owner Chris Straw is retired Navy. He said he’s had his fair share of mandated vaccines.

“Malaria has also been mandated when I went to Haiti… Anthrax was mandated when I went to Kuwait and Saudi Arabia,” Straw said.

Military forces will have to regularly report their vaccination progress.

Troops can get their Pfizer shots on-base and from commands around the world—but how easily is it reaching thousands of scattered troops? What about sailors on ships?

“Manufacturers are not going to be interested in giving a pallet of vaccines that goes bad just because a ship got delayed or something, which typically happens in the Navy,” Straw said.

Defense officials said outbreaks could hinder the military’s ability to defend America.

Straw said he feels politics overshadowed science in this case.

“In the grand scheme it would help to keep our troops safe and effective as a fighting force but it would be nice if a choice was provided,” Straw said.

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The new requirement allows exemptions that are consistent with all the other vaccines like religious and administrative exemptions. You can also be exempt by proving you had COVID or currently have antibodies.

We reached out to our local bases about their vaccination plans. Naval Station Mayport and Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay officials said they have yet to get an official plan from the Navy. NAS Jacksonville officials said they will continue to do what they have been doing by offering vaccines at their COVID vaccine center. Kings Bay officials also mentioned they offer vaccines on-base as well.

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