US Navy updates discharge details for sailors who refuse COVID vaccine

Jacksonville FL — On Thursday, the US Navy released new details on its discharge details for those refusing the COVID-19 vaccine. In a statement, they say service members who refuse the vaccine will receive no lower than a general discharge under honorable conditions which could result in a loss of some veterans’ health benefits.

The Navy says the new deadline for all active-duty sailors to become fully vaccinated will be November 28th and those in the selected reserve have until December 28th. This deadline means November 14th and December 14th are the final days active and selected reserve service members have to receive their second dose of either a Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or a single dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

The Navy says 98% of all active-duty sailors are either partially or fully vaccinated.

“Tragically, there have been 164 deaths within the Navy family due to COVID-19, far exceeding the combined total of all other health or mishap related injuries and deaths over the same time period,” says Vice Adm. John B. Nowell, Jr., the Chief of Naval Personnel.

He says of those 164 deaths, 144 were not vaccinated and the vaccination status of the other 20 remains undetermined.

Sailors can apply for an exemption due to medical or religious reasons.

For more information on this new information click here.

Steven Ponson

Steven Ponson, News 104.5 WOKV

Steven Ponson is the Co-Anchor of Jacksonville's Morning News. He has been with Cox Media Group since the summer of 2015, and with WOKV since mid-2017.

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