{"id":19183,"date":"2022-04-04T17:29:05","date_gmt":"2022-04-04T17:29:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2022\/04\/04\/navy-pauses-actions-against-religious-covid-19-vaccine-refusers\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T18:52:57","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T18:52:57","slug":"navy-pauses-actions-against-religious-covid-19-vaccine-refusers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2022\/04\/04\/navy-pauses-actions-against-religious-covid-19-vaccine-refusers\/","title":{"rendered":"Navy pauses actions against religious COVID-19 vaccine refusers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Navy has paused its efforts to separate and discipline sailors who refused to get the COVID-19 vaccine on religious grounds following a federal judge\u2019s order in Texas last week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But a sea service administrative message<\/a> released Wednesday also warns that commanders will continue to consider vaccination status when making \u201cdeployment, assignment and other operational decisions,\u201d in accordance with a U.S. Supreme Court order last month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A March 28 order by U.S. District Judge Reed O\u2019Connor allowed a lawsuit<\/a> brought by 35 sailors who refused the service\u2019s COVID vaccine mandate to go forward as a class action lawsuit. It could cover thousands of members who objected to getting the vaccine over religious beliefs, the Associated Press<\/a> reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The preliminary injunction protecting those 35 sailors from adverse Navy actions now extends to other sailors who refused the vaccine, according to the AP<\/a>, prompting the Navy\u2019s pause on such moves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While there had been 3,323 requests<\/a> for a religious exemption from the mandated vaccine as of Thursday, the Navy has granted none of those waiver requests.<\/p>\n\n\n\t