The Secretary of Defence, Lloyd Austin, Announces Vaccine Mandate on U.S. Active Duty Military Members

Yesterday, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced that all active duty members of the U.S. military will need to be vaccinated against Covid-19. In a memo Austin said “I want you to know that I will seek the President’s approval to make the vaccines mandatory no later than mid-September, or immediately upon the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration licensure, whichever comes first.” Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, General Mark Milley also published his own memo saying that the “health and readiness of our force is critical to America’s defense.” Austin’s memo said he was asked by the President to “consider how and when we might add the Coronavirus vaccine to the list of those required for all service members.” Details about the plan for implementing the mandate remain unclear.