{"id":28648,"date":"2021-11-02T17:22:42","date_gmt":"2021-11-02T17:22:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2021\/11\/02\/navy-signs-off-on-first-exemptions-for-covid-19-vaccine\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T19:11:00","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T19:11:00","slug":"navy-signs-off-on-first-exemptions-for-covid-19-vaccine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2021\/11\/02\/navy-signs-off-on-first-exemptions-for-covid-19-vaccine\/","title":{"rendered":"Navy signs off on first exemptions for COVID-19 vaccine"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Navy has signed off on five permanent medical exemptions for the mandatory COVID-19 vaccine<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Navy spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Andrew DeGarmo told Navy Times Monday that the Navy has approved five permanent medical exemptions for active-duty and Reserve sailors facing a lasting condition \u2014 like an allergy to an ingredient in the vaccine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The service is not disclosing how many requests for temporary medical waivers the Navy has received so far because they are constantly in flux, he said. Temporary medical exemptions would apply to those with short-term medical limitations, such as those undergoing a surgery or currently battling COVID-19 and need to wait until they recover to receive the jab.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Navy officials also say they are not sharing how many religious accommodation requests, which are included under the administrative exemptions umbrella, have been received because those, too, are constantly changing as they are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. However, DeGarmo said the Navy has not approved any religious exemptions at this time.<\/p>\n\n\n\t