Washington: Tuesday marked the official end of the Pentagon's COVID-19 vaccination requirement, but a new memo approved by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin also gives commanders some latitude in how or whether to deploy troops who didn't get vaccinated Is. Is.

Since legislation was passed on December 23 giving Austin 30 days to revoke the mandate, the memo has been eagerly awaited. The Department of Defense had already halted all personnel-related actions, such as releasing soldiers who objected to dismissals.

Austin said in the memo that "the department will continue to advocate for and encourage COVID-19 vaccination for all service members." The force is protected and operational preparedness is improved by vaccination.

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Austin insisted that commanders have the power to maintain force health and unit readiness. However, he said, other departmental policies, such as requirements for other vaccines, would remain in effect. He added that this includes "the ability for commanders to consider personnel's individual vaccination status in making deployment, assignment and other operational decisions that require vaccination for travel to or entry into a foreign nation."

The divisive political issue resulted in more than 8,400 soldiers being discharged from the military for refusing to obey a valid order to receive the vaccine. Many others requested religious and health exemptions. Austin's memo puts an end to those requests for exemptions.

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Austin, who has been steadfast in his desire to keep Pfizer's vaccine after it receives FDA approval in August 2021 and after the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, insisted that the vaccine was necessary to protect the health of the force.

He and other defense officials argued that soldiers, especially those sent overseas, needed to receive 17 different vaccines over decades. No additional vaccine requirements will be affected by the new rules

Although opponents reluctantly acknowledged that it had probably already succeeded in undermining the force's majority, Congress agreed to repeal the mandate.

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Nearly all active-duty members of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps had received the vaccination. Rates are lower for Guard and Reserves, but they are generally over 90%.