Next steps not clear after Montana Army National Guard passes vaccine deadline

HELENA — The Montana Military Nationwide Guard says about 2% of its troopers nonetheless haven’t obtained a COVID vaccine or utilized for an exemption, after a nationwide vaccine deadline handed.

The U.S. Division of Protection ordered all branches of the navy to start requiring their service members to get vaccinated in opposition to COVID. June 30 was the nationwide deadline for the Military Nationwide Guard.

Based on the Montana Guard, 94.2% of their roughly 2,300 Military Guard troopers had been absolutely or partially vaccinated as of July 6 – up from 93.2% in mid-Might – and one other 3.5% had been looking for spiritual or medical exemptions. The remaining 2.2% – about 50 troopers – had neither gotten a shot nor began the exemption course of, down barely from 2.4% in Might.

Montana Guard leaders have mentioned they’ve been ready for extra steerage from federal authorities earlier than deciding methods to transfer ahead with the remaining unvaccinated troopers.

“The Secretary of the Military is predicted to publish steerage detailing how the Nationwide Guard will deal with their unvaccinated inhabitants,” mentioned Maj. Ryan Finnegan, the state public affairs officer. “We’re awaiting that steerage as a way to decide our subsequent steps.”

The Guard deliberate to carry a “retention symposium” in early June, to reply unvaccinated troopers’ questions in regards to the vaccine and speak about what would occur subsequent. Finnegan informed MTN that occasion was delayed whereas they continued to attend for up to date steerage, and it hasn’t but been rescheduled.

The Air Nationwide Guard’s vaccine deadline was in December 2021. The Montana Guard mentioned in Might that none of its Air Guard members had been discharged up to now for failing to get vaccinated.