Almost 10,000 U.S. navy personnel have utilized for non secular waivers to keep away from the COVID-19 vaccine however to date not a single one has been authorised, publicly accessible Pentagon knowledge present. This doubtlessly paves the best way for 1000’s of service members to be booted from the drive within the coming months.

The gorgeous variety of troopers, sailors, airmen and Marines arguing that their religion — or a deeply held ethical conviction — ought to permit them to skip the shot underscores simply how controversial the coronavirus vaccine stays each contained in the navy and in American society as an entire. Religion-based exemptions from vaccines, grooming requirements and different navy insurance policies have been in place for many years, however every service has acknowledged that the variety of women and men searching for non secular waivers for COVID-19 immunization far exceeds something seen earlier than.

The Navy launched its most up-to-date numbers late Tuesday following its Nov. 28 vaccination deadline. Simply over 97% of sailors have acquired a minimum of one dose of the vaccine, figures present, leaving greater than 9,000 unvaccinated.

Of these, 2,531 have utilized for a spiritual waiver. Not one has been authorised to date.

Sailors who’re denied a spiritual exemption can attraction, but when their attraction is denied they’ll have to get vaccinated or face expulsion from the drive. 

The Navy, like different navy companies, is mounting an aggressive crackdown on the unvaccinated. And proof means that the Pentagon has no intention of permitting the resistance within the ranks from getting in the best way of its objective.

“To be able to guarantee a totally vaccinated drive, U.S. Navy coverage is to course of for separation all Navy service members who refuse the lawful order to obtain the COVID-19 vaccination and would not have an authorised exemption,” the Navy mentioned in a truth sheet accompanying its most up-to-date vaccination numbers. “All waiver requests are reviewed on a case-by-case foundation and every request will probably be given full consideration with respect to the details and circumstances submitted within the request.”

Analysts say the waivers on religion grounds could also be onerous to maintain, as service personnel have lengthy been required to get vaccines for different ailments. Spiritual leaders comparable to Pope Francis and prime Protestant officers have additionally urged believers to get the vaccine and have refused to sentence the mandates.

To this point, the Navy has granted seven everlasting medical exemptions and 400 non permanent medical exemptions. 

Not all the non secular waiver functions have been processed, Navy officers informed The Washington Occasions on Wednesday. It’s unclear precisely when all sailors searching for an exemption will get a solution, however nobody will probably be pushed out of the service till these requests are heard.

As every particular person service pushes to vaccinate its members, Protection Secretary Lloyd Austin additionally has demonstrated little willingness to budge on the difficulty. On Tuesday, Mr. Austin despatched a letter to Oklahoma Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt, who has sought to dam Mr. Austin’s vaccine mandate for personnel within the Oklahoma Military and Air Nationwide Guard. 

Mr. Austin mentioned that any Nationwide Guard troops who refuse to get the vaccine gained’t be paid.

“As I’ve mentioned earlier than, vaccination of the drive will save lives and is important to our readiness,” he mentioned in a memo laying out the brand new Nationwide Guard coverage.

In the meantime, different companies are also grappling with an unprecedented variety of non secular waiver requests as they search to vaccinate their personnel.

The Marine Corps has a vaccination price of about 95%, leaving an estimated 9,000 Marines unvaccinated, the latest knowledge present. A minimum of 316 Marines have gotten a short lived medical exemption. One other 452 have been granted a short lived administrative exemption, whereas 14 Marines have acquired a everlasting medical exemption.

Over 2,400 Marines have filed non secular waiver requests. As of Monday night, about 1,900 had been processed and none had been authorised. 

Just like the Navy, the Marine Corps additionally has mentioned that service members who refuse the vaccine and not using a legitimate exemption will probably be faraway from the drive.

The Air Power has acquired greater than 4,900 non secular waiver requests. They’re anticipated to be processed by Thursday.

The Military’s vaccination deadline is Dec. 15. Military officers haven’t revealed what number of waiver requests they’ve acquired.