(CNN) Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is expected to seek authorization to make Covid-19 vaccines mandatory for all active duty troops as soon as this week, following President Joe Biden's directive that the military examine how and when it could make that happen. Austin's "inclination is towards making the COVID-19 vaccine mandatory" for active duty troops, a defense official told CNN. If the secretary makes that final recommendation, he could seek a presidential waiver to allow the vaccine to be administered to troops before full approval by the Food and Drug Administration. Biden announced on July 29 that he was asking the Defense Department to "look into how and when" it will add the Covid-19 vaccine to the list of mandatory military vaccinations. Austin has also been consulting with military medical authorities, the defense official said.

Source: CNN August 04, 2021 20:37 UTC