{"id":115358,"date":"2022-01-04T17:09:55","date_gmt":"2022-01-04T17:09:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/uncategorized\/2022\/01\/04\/navy-blocked-from-acting-against-35-covid-vaccine-refusers\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T13:03:17","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T13:03:17","slug":"navy-blocked-from-acting-against-35-covid-vaccine-refusers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/news\/your-military\/2022\/01\/04\/navy-blocked-from-acting-against-35-covid-vaccine-refusers\/","title":{"rendered":"Navy blocked from acting against 35 COVID vaccine refusers"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Army stares down its first major COVID 19 vaccine deadline, and the penalties for soldiers who don’t get inoculated can be severe.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n

A federal judge in Texas has granted a preliminary injunction stopping the Navy from acting against 35 sailors for refusing on religious grounds to comply<\/a> with an order to get vaccinated against COVID-19.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The injunction is a new challenge to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin\u2019s decision to make vaccinations mandatory for all members of the military.<\/a> The vaccination requirement allows for exemptions on religious and other grounds, but none of the thousands of requests for religious waivers so far have been granted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There was no indication that the order would affect service members beyond the 35 sailors who sued Austin and the Navy. The Pentagon had no immediate response to a request for comment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Well over 90% of the military has been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, including at least 98.5% of active and reserve members of the Navy. Austin asserts that vaccines are a valid and necessary medical requirement to protect service members and their families and ensure the combat readiness of the force.<\/p>\n\n\n\t