Senators Vow to Try Again to Bar Dishonorable Discharges for Declining Vaccine

Two Republican senators vowed late on Oct. 6 to try again to bar the Department of Defense from dishonorably discharging members of the U.S. military who decline to be vaccinated against the CCP virus, also known as novel coronavirus, the cause of COVID-19.

Marshall was referring to a Sept. 21 position statement issued by the White House saying the Biden administration "Strongly opposes" congressional efforts to bar dishonorable discharges when service members decline to be vaccinated.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin issued an Aug. 24 order requiring all service members to be vaccinated, using the vaccine developed by Pfizer.

While Austin said President Joe Biden supported the decision, it's been unclear whether service members would face a dishonorable discharge as a potential penalty.

Austin was asked by Sen. Tommy Tuberville during a Sept. 28 Senate Armed Services Committee hearing if he supports dishonorable discharges for unvaccinated service members.

The issue continues to boil in Congress because of recurring reports of service members being threatened with dishonorable discharges.

The service members argue that the Pfizer vaccine being required by the Austin order is based on an FDA authorization for its use on an experimental basis.

https://www.theepochtimes.com/senators-vow-to-try-again-to-bar-dishonorable-discharges-for-declining-vaccine_4037228.html