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Massie later tweeted \"NO ONE should be forced or coerced by ANYONE to take the COVID vaccine. The fact that policy discussions in the US are centered around \"proof of vaccine\" instead of 'evidence of immunity' shows that science and reason have been drummed out by politics, profits, and superstition.\"

According to a recent ABC News/Washington Post poll, three in 10 American adults said they have not gotten a coronavirus vaccine and definitely or probably will not get one.

Earlier this week the Army Times obtained an internal Army memo that said commanders should \"prepare for a directive to mandate COVID-19 vaccination for service members (on or around) 01 September 2021, pending full FDA licensure,\" the order said.

\"As a matter of policy we do not comment on leaked documents. The vaccine continues to be voluntary,\" Maj. Jackie Wren, an Army spokesperson told ABC News. \"If we are directed by DOD to change our posture, we are prepared to do so.\"

\"PHOTO:
Joe Raedle/Getty Images, FILE
PHOTO: U.S. Army soldiers from the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, prepare Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines to inoculate people at the Miami Dade College North Campus on March 9, 2021 in Miami.
>

At a Pentagon briefing on Tuesday the Pentagon's top spokesman emphasized the success that the U.S. military has had in recommending the use of the vaccines.

\"It is not FDA approved, and therefore, it is still a voluntary vaccine,\" said John Kirby. \"I would like to add that as we speak, almost 69% of DOD personnel have received at least one dose. That's not bad.\"

However he added that should the FDA fully approve one of the vaccines \"then I am certain that Pentagon leadership -- we'll take a look at what our options are going forward, including the potential option of making mandatory but I'm not going to get too far ahead of process right now,\" he added.

Kirby acknowledged that there had been \"some preliminary discussions at senior levels within the department to think about what the next logical steps would be if and when FDA approval comes in.\"

\"I don't think that should surprise anybody that we're trying to think about what the implications would be and what how we would, how would react to that but I don't have any decisions to announce today or specific procedures and protocols to speak to,\" said Kirby.

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