The US Air Force has dismissed 27 airmen for disobeying the order to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
Ann Stefanek the Air force spokeswoman said on Monday that this is the first time workers are being discharged due to vaccine reason after giving them until November 2 to take the vaccine.
Stefanek mention that the type of discharge members get wasn’t disclose. And that was their first term of enlistment, so they were younger, lower ranking personnel.
The Pentagon earlier this year required the vaccine for all members of the military, including active duty, National Guard and the Reserves.
Each of the services set its own deadlines and procedures for the mandate, and the Air Force set the earliest deadline.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has said the vaccine is critical to maintaining the health of the force and its ability to respond to an national security crisis.
She said that none of the 27 airmen sought a medical, administrative or religious exemption and as a result, they were formally removed of their duty for disobeying an order.
Stefanek also added that about 1,800 airmen were discharged due to failure to follow order in the first three quarters of 2021 and more than 4,700 are seeking a religious exemption.
As of last week, a bit more than 97% of the active duty Air Force had gotten at least one shot.
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