Nearly 40% of US Marines Have Declined Covid-19 Vaccine, Mainly Over Fears it Was Developed Too Quickly

UKRAINE - 2020/04/06: In this photo illustration, a vial labelled as Coronavirus vaccine and a syringe seen displayed as the world anxiously awaits for the vaccine against coronavirus. (Photo Illustration by

Approximately 40% of US Marines has declined the Covid-19 vaccine.

The military cannot force servicemembers to get the Covid vaccine “because they have only emergency use authorizations from the Food and Drug Administration, meaning service members who are required to receive a series of other vaccinations have the option of declining shots to protect against Covid-19.” CNN reported.

Officials told CNN that the main reason why Marines have opted out of receiving the Covid vaccine is due to concerns it was produced too quickly and fears over long-term effects.

CNN reported:

Nearly 40% of US Marines are declining Covid-19 vaccinations, according to data provided to CNN on Friday by the service, the first branch to disclose service-wide numbers on acceptance and declination.

As of Thursday, approximately 75,500 Marines have received vaccines, including fully vaccinated and partially vaccinated service men and women. About 48,000 Marines have chosen not to receive vaccines, for a declination rate of 38.9%.

The declination rate at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, one of the prominent Marine Corps bases, was far higher, at 57%, according to another set of data provided to CNN. Of 26,400 Marines who have been offered vaccinations, 15,100 have chosen not to receive them, a number that includes both II Marine Expeditionary Force and Marine Corps Installation East — Camp Lejeune. Another 11,500 active-duty Marines are scheduled to be offered the vaccines.

Officials say most of the vaccine hesitancy stems from concerns about the speed at which the vaccines were developed and fears over long-term effects.

Democrat lawmakers are pressuring Joe Biden to make it mandatory for US military servicemembers to get vaccinated against Covid-19.

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Cristina began writing for The Gateway Pundit in 2016 and she is now the Associate Editor.

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