The Senate passed final legislation this week that would prohibit the service branches from dishonorably discharging any member who refused to get the coronavirus vaccine. The measure, which was supported by Republicans in the House and the Senate, allows those who declined the vaccine to receive certain benefits after leaving the military. On Thursday, right after three branches of the military released their latest vaccine numbers after passing a deadline for troops to be inoculated, Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas made public a letter he sent to the Pentagon that said the state would not impose a vaccine mandate on members of its National Guard. While National Guard troops helped oversee large vaccine sites for Americans across the country last year, they have lagged behind their active-duty counterparts in getting shots.

Source: New York Times December 16, 2021 22:53 UTC