The Air Force on Monday said it has discharged 27 personnel for refusing to take the COVID-19 vaccine.
Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek told The Associated Press that while all personnel enlisted in the first term of enlistment, none of them sought medical, administrative, or religious exemptions.
People are believed to be the first service members to be discharged for not being vaccinated, Stefanek said.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin made COVID-19 vaccination mandatory for the military in late August but left it to each branch to set its own deadlines for compliance.
The Air Force gave military branches the earliest deadline to vaccinate active-duty airmen by November 2, while Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve personnel were given a December 3 deadline to comply.
According to the most recent Air Force data published on December 7, 94 percent of the total force is vaccinated, including 97 percent active-duty personnel and 90 percent each of Guard and Reserve personnel.
In guidance issued last week, the Air Force said service members whose requests for medical, religious, or administrative exemptions have been denied should either begin a vaccine regimen, appeal the refusal, or be in isolation, or Five calendar days are given for requesting retirement.
Those who continue to refuse vaccination even after their waiver or appeal is denied will be discharged.
Stefanik did not tell the AP what kind of leave the 27 workers received for refusing vaccination.
The Fiscal 2022 National Defense Authorization Act, which the House passed last week, stipulates that service members who are discharged for refusing vaccination are given a normal leave at least under honorable conditions. The Senate is expected to pass the law this week.
