Austin wants mandatory vaccinations no later than mid-September

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said today he will seek approval from President Biden to make COVID-19 vaccinations mandatory at the Defense Department no later than mid-September.

"Based on these consultations and on additional discussions with leaders of the White House COVID Task Force, I want you to know that I will seek the President's approval to make the vaccines mandatory no later than mid-September, or immediately upon the U.S. Food and Drug Agency (FDA) licensure, whichever comes first," he wrote in a DOD-wide memo.

Austin noted that public reporting suggests a vaccine could achieve full FDA licensure early next month.

"The intervening few weeks will be spent preparing for this transition," he said. "I have every confidence that service leadership and your commanders will implement this new vaccination program with professionalism, skill, and compassion. We will have more to say about this as implementation plans are fully developed."

Austin said DOD personnel should know that FDA-authorized COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective.

"They will protect you and your family," he said. "They will protect your unit, your ship, and your co-workers. And they will ensure we remain the most lethal and ready force in the world."

Meanwhile, Austin said with restriction and requirements regarding unvaccinated personnel.

"Those requirements apply to those of you in uniform as well as our civilian and contractor personnel," he said.

Austin said DOD will also continue to closely monitor infection rates now that the Delta variant is surging.

"I will not hesitate to act sooner or recommend a different course to the President if l feel the need to do so," he said. "To defend this Nation, we need a healthy and ready force. I strongly encourage all DOD military and civilian personnel -- as well as contractor personnel -- to get vaccinated now and for military Service members to not wait for the mandate."