Navy Releases New Guidance on Separating Sailors for Vaccine Refusal

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Sailors who are not granted an exemption for the COVID-19 vaccine will have five days to initiate the vaccination process before facing separation, according to new Navy guidance.

Active-duty sailors must be fully vaccinated by Nov. 28, unless they have a pending or approved exemption, according to previous naval guidance. Fully vaccinated means they are two-weeks-post the second shot of the FDA-approved Pfizer shot, the emergency use authorized-Moderna vaccine or the single-dose Johnson and Johnson version.

In order for active-duty sailors to meet this deadline, they would have needed to receive the last shot on Sunday. Reservists have until Dec. 28 to be fully vaccinated.