According to the data, 40% of sailors reduce their vaccine against coronavirus obtained by CNN.
There has been a 38.9% decrease, but Marines provide information to people who encourage them to receive the vaccine.
“The Navy and Marine Corps provide substantial educational information on a large scale and work with commands to ensure that marines, sailors and beneficiaries have accurate information on the safety and effectiveness of vaccines to encourage people to become immunized. ” Captain Andrew Wood, a spokesman for the Marines, told The Hill in a statement.
The data showed that 75,500 sailors received the vaccine and 48,000 refused it. In total, the acceptance rate is 61.1 percent.
Data numbers include reserves, active duty and individual Augmentation Marines mobilization, according to CNN.
Wood said sailors mainly include “young and healthy people” and that there are several reasons why they could refuse the vaccine.
“For example, a person may be delayed until later to allow others to receive the vaccine, may have received the vaccine on their own and not militarily, may be unavailable for the second dose within the prescribed period for vaccines that require two doses, one might expect the vaccine to become mandatory and wait until then or they may be allergic to one of the compounds in the vaccine, ”said Wood.
The military previously estimated that 66% would accept the coronavirus vaccine, according to CNN. Wood said anyone who initially refused the vaccine can change their mind and receive it.
“We continue to make the vaccine available to marines, sailors, civilians, contractors and authorized beneficiaries, based on the prioritization program listed in [Department of Defense] population scheme, ”Wood said.
As the vaccines are only authorized for emergency use by the Food and Drug Administration, the military cannot require members of the service to be vaccinated.
The data show that the Lejeune camp in North Carolina recorded a 57% decrease in the vaccine.
“We fully understand that the widespread acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine gives us the best means to overcome this pandemic, “said Wood.