Only 40 percent of Marine Corps service members refused to take the coronavirus jab, new data shows to the media. The revelation comes as Democratic lawmakers insist on making the vaccination compulsory for soldiers.
About 75,500 Marines agreed to be vaccinated as of Thursday, while about 48,000 turned down the vaccination, CNN reported, citing the numbers provided by the branch. This sets the rejection rate at 38.9%, slightly higher than the 33% rate for the entire army given by defense officials.
Colonel Kelly Frushour, spokeswoman for the Navy, explained that marines can refuse the shot for several reasons, including that others in more vulnerable groups may first take it, have allergies to the vaccine or obtain it in other, non-military ways.
Frushour stressed the need for “Build vaccine confidence” among conscripts, adding that reluctant troops can always “Change your mind and get vaccinated when the opportunity arises.”
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Another 102,000 marines, including active service and reserve troops, are still in favor of the vaccination and have not had a chance to accept or refuse it.
The disapproval rate was much higher on certain bases, such as Camp Lejeune, a large marine facility in North Carolina, where 57% of service members refused to take the chance.
While the military is currently banning mandatory vaccination of any coronavirus vaccines in the U.S., as each has received only FDA approval instead of full authorization, some in Congress have pushed the Joe Biden government to change it.
In a letter sent to the White House last month, a group of Democratic lawmakers led by California Representative Jimmy Panetta argued that unvaccinated soldiers had a “Critical threat to our national security and public health,” an appeal to the president to waive the rules – as well as the “informed consent” of the troops.
“The vaccination of every eligible service member will improve readiness and have an immediate and positive impact on the communities in which they serve,” Panetta writes in the letter, which was signed by six House Democrats.
Require [the Defense Department] obtaining informed consent prior to vaccination is not only detrimental to our national security, but contrary to the best interests of service members, their families, communities and colleagues.
Service members may not reject other approved vaccinations.
Other surveys show that about 25% of Americans are generally unwilling to be vaccinated against the coronavirus.
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