Rep. Barry Moore: Department of Defense must halt involuntary discharges for vaccine refusal immediately

Washington, D.C. —Rep. Barry Moore (AL-02) joined his colleagues to demand that the Department of Defense (DOD) halt efforts to involuntarily discharge members of the military who have refused COVID-19 vaccination until an in-depth review of natural immunity is complete, and the Department has issued uniform procedures for vaccine exemptions.

Section 720 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 requires the DOD to establish uniform procedures for issuing exemptions and fully consider natural immunity. This includes eligibility timelines for consideration of exemptions for service members nearing separation and retirement in the development of uniform procedures relating to administrative exemptions.

“The DOD must immediately halt efforts to discharge our active-duty military members who refuse to get the vaccine just because overreaching politicians want to continue intervening in the private lives of the American people,” said Rep. Barry Moore. “We must ensure that the DOD completes an in-depth review of natural immunity. I will continue to fight against the tyrannical vaccine mandate on our service members.”

In the letter, the members state:

“We are gravely concerned that the military services are proceeding with involuntary discharges when it is unclear to us whether uniform procedures have been issued by the Department of Defense. If the Department of Defense has not issued uniform procedures or reviewed the inclusion of natural immunity and the military services are moving forward with involuntary discharges, then we believe the Department is ignoring and violating Section 720. Congress included this language to protect our service members, and we expect the Department of Defense to abide by the law.”

Read the full letter here. 

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