Less than 1% of active-duty soldiers have declined to be vaccinated against COVID-19, the Army said Dec. 16, one day after its vaccination deadline.  

By the deadline, 98% of the active-duty Army had received at least one dose of a vaccine, and 96% were fully vaccinated.  

Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth was pleased, saying, “Vaccinating our Soldiers against COVID-19 is first and foremost about Army readiness.” She specifically thanked the Army medical staff “who have been supporting the pandemic response at home and to the vaccinated Soldiers who put the health and welfare of their fellow Soldiers and families first.”  

For the small percent who have not been vaccinated, she had a warning. “To those who continue to refuse the vaccine and are not pending a final decision on a medical or administrative exemption, I strongly encourage you to get the vaccine. If not, we will begin involuntary separation proceedings.”  

Six active-duty Army leaders, including two battalion commanders, have been relieved for not being vaccinated, and 2,767 reprimands have been issued to other soldiers.   

The Army has approved four medical exemptions but no requests for religious accommodations from the vaccine mandate, officials said. Some requests have been denied while others are still under review.   

The mandate for Army National Guard and Army Reserve vaccinations has a June 30, 2022, effective date.