Join our crew and become one of the 110,675 members that receive our newsletter.

Pentagon Set to Make Pfizer Vaccine Mandatory After FDA Approval

FILE PHOTO: The aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt is pictured as it enters the port in Da Nang, Vietnam, March 5, 2020. REUTERS/Kham/File Photo

Pentagon Set to Make Pfizer Vaccine Mandatory After FDA Approval

Reuters
Total Views: 1372
August 23, 2021
Reuters

WASHINGTON, Aug 23 (Reuters) – The Pentagon is preparing to issue updated guidance to require all U.S. service personnel to be vaccinated after Monday’s approval of the Pfizer Inc /BioNTech SE COVID-19 vaccine by the Food and Drug Administration, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said.

Kirby told a briefing the completion date for vaccine guidance was still being worked on.

The FDA granted full approval on Monday to the vaccine, which had earned emergency-use authorization in December, making it the first to secure such validation as U.S. health authorities struggle to win over vaccine skeptics.

Asked if similar guidance could be given for other COVID-19 vaccines, Kirby replied: “Right now we’re focused on the Pfizer vaccine because of the FDA approval that came in this morning.”

The Pentagon said this month it would seek President Joe Biden’s approval by mid-September to require 1.3 million military members to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

After setting COVID-19 rules for federal workers, Biden last month directed the Pentagon to look into “how and when” it would require members of the military to take the vaccine. Biden said then he strongly supported the Pentagon’s plan to add the COVID-19 vaccine to the list of required vaccinations for service members by mid-September.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has said the deadline could be moved up if the FDA approved the vaccine earlier.

The U.S. military said this month that around half the U.S. armed forces are already fully vaccinated, a number that climbs significantly when counting only active-duty troops and excluding National Guard and Reserve members.

Vaccination rates are highest in the Navy, which suffered from a high-profile outbreak last year aboard an aircraft carrier. About 73% of sailors are fully vaccinated, compared with the U.S. national average of about 60% of adults ages 18 and over.

Because U.S. service members are generally younger and fitter, relatively few of them have died as a result of COVID-19 – just 28 in total, according to Pentagon data. (Reporting by Idrees Ali and David Brunnstrom; editing by Jonathan Oatis)

(c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2021.

Unlock Exclusive Insights Today!

Join the gCaptain Club for curated content, insider opinions, and vibrant community discussions.

Sign Up
Back to Main
polygon icon polygon icon

Why Join the gCaptain Club?

Access exclusive insights, engage in vibrant discussions, and gain perspectives from our CEO.

Sign Up
close

JOIN OUR CREW

Maritime and offshore news trusted by our 110,675 members delivered daily straight to your inbox.