U.S. Army has started removing soldiers who are refusing the COVID-19 vaccine

U.S. Army has started removing soldiers who are refusing the COVID-19 vaccine. 

WASHINGTON: U.S. soldiers who refuse to receive a COVID-19 vaccination are immediately dismissed. The U.S. Army said on Wednesday that the decision was essential to keep military readiness.

The Army’s orders apply to all regular Army soldiers, active duty Army reservists, and cadets, except that they have been approved or are awaiting exemptions, the Army said in an announcement.

MORE: Hundreds pay tributes to those who have lost their lives to New York police officers.

The discharge notice is the most recent one issued by a U.S. military branch removing those who were not vaccinated from the pandemic after the Pentagon introduced the vaccine as a requirement for all soldiers on August 20, 2021.

The majority of active-duty soldiers have had at most one dose. Around 79 uniformed personnel across all branches have died due to the coronavirus, a novel virus. 

“Army readiness depends on soldiers who are prepared to train, deploy, fight and win our nation’s wars,” Army Secretary Christine Wormuth said.

“Unvaccinated soldiers present a risk to the force and jeopardize readiness.”

The other branches of the U.S. military, including the U.S. Air Force, have already begun to eliminate those who did not choose to be vaccinated with the COVID vaccine, which was first approved for use in emergencies in December of 2020.