Nearly 4,000 U.S. soldiers have refused a COVID-19 vaccine and could be pushed out of the Army beginning next month, the Pentagon said Thursday as military officials grapple with the possibility that the controversy could lead to a mass purge from the ranks.
A day after its vaccination deadline Wednesday, the Army said 468,459 active-duty soldiers, or about 98%, had received at least one dose of a vaccine. About 96% of soldiers are fully vaccinated.
Even with the high level of compliance, however, 3,864 soldiers are unvaccinated and don’t have pending or approved exemptions. Those soldiers join thousands of Marines, airmen and sailors who also have refused COVID-19 immunization and appear prepared to lose their military careers, their benefits and even their enlistment bonuses rather than roll up their sleeves.