Administration of Joseph R. Biden, Jr., 2021

August 9, 2021

I strongly support Secretary Austin's message to the force today on the Department of Defense's plan to add the COVIDâ19 vaccine to the list of required vaccinations for our servicemembers not later than mid-September. Secretary Austin and I share an unshakable commitment to making sure our troops have every tool they need to do their jobs as safely as possible. These vaccines will save lives. Period. They are safe. They are effective. Over 350 million shots have been given in the United States alone.

Being vaccinated will enable our servicemembers to stay healthy, to better protect their families, and to ensure that our force is ready to operate anywhere in the world. We cannot let up in the fight against COVIDâ19, especially with the Delta variant spreading rapidly through unvaccinated populations. We are still on a wartime footing, and every American who is eligible should take immediate steps to get vaccinated right away. I am proud that our military women and men will continue to help lead the charge in the fight against this pandemic, as they so often do, by setting the example of keeping their fellow Americans safe.

Categories: Statements by the President : COVIDâ19 vaccines for U.S. servicemembers. Names: Austin, Lloyd J., III.

Subjects: Armed Forces, U.S. : Servicemembers :: COVIDâ19 vaccination requirement; Armed Forces, U.S. : Servicemembers :: Service and dedication; Defense, Department of : Secretary; Diseases : Coronavirus, domestic prevention efforts.

DCPD Number: DCPD202100649.

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