Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is expected to seek authorization to make Covid-19 vaccines mandatory for all active-duty troops. The decision could be made as early as this week following a directive from President Joe Biden that the military should examine how and when it could happen.
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Austin's "inclination is towards making the COVID-19 vaccine mandatory" for all active-duty troops, according to a defense official, CNN reported.
If the decision is made, he could attempt to receive a presidential waiver allowing the vaccine to be administered to troops before full approval by the Food and Drug Administration. The Pentagon could make a decision and recommendation on how to proceed as early as this week.
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Biden announced on July 29 that he was asking the Defense Department to "look into how and when" the Covid-19 vaccine would be listed as a mandatory military vaccination.
Since then, the Joint Chiefs have discussed how mandatory vaccination plans could work, and Austin has been consulting military medical authorities, CNN reported. Austin's current view is to "seek authorization to make it mandatory."
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