All civilians working for the Department of Defense and the military must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by November 22, according to new guidelines released Monday.
A statement signed by Undersecretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks said Friday that the new requirement is in line with the presidential guideline issued last month requiring federal agencies to enforce immunization requirements.
“Vaccinating civilian (department) employees against COVID-19 will save lives and enable our nation’s defense,” Hicks said. “Thank you for focusing on this critical mission.”
The Pentagon demanded weeks ago that all members of the military be vaccinated. Each branch of the military set its own dates for active duty and reserves to fulfill the mandate.
Those who receive the Pfizer vaccine, approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), should receive the first dose by October 18 and the second by November 8. Those who receive Moderna should have their first dose by October 11 and the second by November 8.
Those who receive the Johnson & Johnson single-dose vaccine should get vaccinated by November 8.
People are considered to be fully vaccinated two weeks after the second injection, or two weeks after the only Johnson & Johnson injection. Moderna and J&J vaccines are licensed for emergency use.
The statement says that those who have had COVID-19 infections “are not considered fully vaccinated” for the purposes of the mandate.
Each of the military services has published its own deadlines for its personnel to be vaccinated. Active duty Army soldiers must be fully vaccinated by December 15. Soldiers of the National Guard and Army Reserve by June 30, 2022.
Active duty soldiers in the Navy should be vaccinated by November 28, and those in the Navy Reserve by December 28.
The Marine Corps has similar dates of late November for active duty and late December for reserves.
Active duty members of the Air Force and Space Force must be fully vaccinated by November 2, and Guard and Reserve personnel by December 2.
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