More than 200 Marines discharged after refusing Covid-19 vaccine

On Thursday, the Marine Corps revealed that more troops have been removed of their duties for refusing to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, pushing the number over 200.

Spokesman Capt. Andrew Wood says 206 Marines have been let go, as the Marine Corps works to get all of its service members vaccinated, according to The Hill.

In August, vaccine mandates were issued by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin for all branches of the military, with each branch being placed in charge of enforcing their own timelines.

For Marines, active-duty soldiers were given until November 28 to get vaccinated, and reservists until December 28. Both these dates have now passed, meaning more discharges could be imminent.

On Monday, President Biden signed into law the fiscal 2022 National Defense Authorization Act. Included within the legislation is a provision stating that a member of the armed forces cannot be given a dishonorable discharge "solely on the basis of failure to obey lawful order to receive COVID–19 vaccine."

Instead, those who are let go for refusing the jab can receive at least a general discharge.

The Marines have been rather stringent in their enforcement of the vaccine mandate, with reports showing zero "religious exemptions" being approved.