The U.S. Defense Department said Monday that it is moving to mandate COVID-19 vaccine for all military service members, following the full approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine announced earlier in the day by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The Defense Department is preparing "guidance to the force" to make the vaccine mandatory, with a timeline to be provided in the coming days, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby told reporters during a press conference.
Earlier on Monday, the FDA granted its full approval for the Pfizer vaccine -- which previously was authorized only for emergency use -- in a much-anticipated move that's expected to boost vaccinations across the nation while clearing a potential hurdle for the Pentagon's mandate.
