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Pentagon orders troops to get COVID-19 vaccine immediately

The Pentagon on Wednesday ordered military troops to get the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible, according to a memo from Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin obtained by AP.

Why it matters: More than 800,000 active duty military members are unvaccinated, according to AP.


State of play: Although he didn't set an official deadline for vaccinations in the memo, Austin encouraged service leaders to “impose ambitious timelines for implementation," per AP.

  • Military services will be expected to report regularly on the progress of their vaccination efforts. Service members will be able to receive their vaccines at their bases or commands abroad.
  • The military has reported 34 deaths, according to data from the Department of Defense.

What they're saying: “To defend this Nation, we need a healthy and ready force,” Austin wrote, per AP.

  • "After careful consultation with medical experts and military leadership, and with the support of the President, I have determined that mandatory vaccination against coronavirus disease ... is necessary to protect the Force and defend the American people.”

The big picture: The Pentagon said earlier this month that it would plan to mandate COVID-19 vaccines by Sept. 15 or as soon as the FDA granted full approval.

  • Wednesday's memo from Austin comes after the FDA's full approval of the Pfizer vaccine on Monday.

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Britain to end mask and distancing requirements on July 19 despite increase in COVID-19 cases

Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday said that England will lift mask requirements and social distancing rules later this month amid rising coronavirus cases, AP reports.

Driving the news: Individuals in England will no longer be required by law to wear face masks in indoor public spaces. Businesses can still require masks and remove distancing restrictions, but Johnson said fighting the pandemic would now be a matter of "personal responsibility," and Britain would have to “learn to live with this virus," per the AP.

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