The US Department of Defense is planning to make COVID-19 vaccines mandatory for all military service personnel by mid-September — possibly in time for the Food and Drug Administration to give full licensure to the Pfizer vaccine.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s request was supported by President Biden, who says the two “share an unshakeable commitment to making sure our troops have every tool they need to do their jobs as safely as possible.” Biden will have to grant a waiver for Austin’s request because the Pfizer drug is on emergency use authorization at this time.
Current indications are the Pfizer drug could get full authorization by early September.
For now, this does not affect members of the National Guard. Kansas National Guard spokesperson Jane Welch says there will need to be coordination between the Defense Department and National Guard officials on how this could be implemented if the decision is made to vaccinate Guard members.
Emporia is home of the Army National Guard’s First Battalion, 635th Armor Regiment.
