U.S. Navy COVID-19 Updates

You are at the official site for Navy information and updates on Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19). Visit frequently to learn about the latest policies, leadership messages, and guidance on how to protect yourself, your family, and your Shipmates.

Department of the Navy Return to the Workplace COVID-19 Guidance and Resources 2020 (updated July 28, 2020) (PDF). Information to assist the military and civilian employees on workforce management, reporting, testing, personnel protection, telework policy, travel and more. Information is subject to change. Consult the following links for updated guidance: ALNAV Library, NAVADMIN Library, and MARADMIN Library.

NEED TO A REPORT COVID-19 CASE?

Go to MyNavy Portal at - https://www.mnp.navy.mil/group/navy-covid-19-reporting (CAC Enabled)  

If you have any questions or experience any difficulties please contact the OPNAV COVID Cell via email OPNAV_COVID_CRISIS_RESPONSE_CELL@navy.mil or by phone at (703) 571-2822.

• For Navy-specific questions related to COVID-19 numbers and vaccination data, please email PTGN_CHINFONEWSDESK@NAVY.MIL.

​NAVY COVID-19 UPDATE

 January 19, 2022

• As of Jan. 19, 2022, 5,113 active component and 2,967 Ready Reserve service members remain unvaccinated.
• As of Jan. 19, 2022, active duty service members currently have eight permanent medical exemptions, 273 temporary medical exemptions, 61 administrative exemptions, and zero religious accommodation requests for the COVID-19 vaccine approved. There have been 3,217 active duty requests for a religious accommodation from immunization for the COVID-19 vaccine.
• As of Jan. 19, 2022, Ready Reserve service members currently have zero permanent medical exemptions, nine temporary medical exemptions, 23 administrative exemptions, and zero religious accommodation requests for the COVID-19 vaccine approved. There have been 764 Ready Reserve requests for a religious accommodation from immunization for the COVID-19 vaccine.
• There have been 22 Entry Level Separations (ELS). In accordance with the Naval Military Personnel Manual (MILPERSMAN) 1910-154 and naval administrative message (NAVADMIN) 225/21, this reflects service members who, since the time of the vaccine mandate, were separated during initial training periods within their first 180 days of active duty. Moving forward, separations will occur as described in NAVADMIN 283/21.
• Starting with the Dec. 10 report, the vaccination and religious accommodation request data is provided by the data collected by the COVID-19 Consolidated Disposition Authority (CCDA), as directed in NAVADMIN 249/21: CCDA Data Reporting Requirements.
• On Dec. 15, NAVADMIN 283/2 was released outlining execution guidance regarding separation of Navy service members refusing the COVID-19 vaccine
• On Dec. 22, NAVADMIN 289/21 was released outlining guidance encouraging COVID-19 vaccine boosters.
• Our thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends, and coworkers of our fallen shipmates during this difficult time:
  • On Jan. 12, 2022, a civilian assigned to Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division in Crane, Indiana, died  from complications attributed to COVID-19.
  • On Jan. 12, 2022, a civilian assigned to Mid-Atlantic Regional Maintenance Center in Norfolk, Virginia, died from complications attributed to COVID-19.

* Active Cases + Recovered + Deaths = Cumulative Total COVID Cases
  

UNVACCINATED

APPROVED EXEMPTIONS

• In accordance with Navy mandatory COVID-19 vaccination and reporting policy guidance, the deadline for active-duty Navy service members to be fully vaccinated was Nov. 28, 2021. Ready Reserve Navy service members will be fully vaccinated by Dec. 28, 2021. New accessions will be fully vaccinated as soon as practicable following service entry.
• In order to ensure a fully vaccinated force, U.S. Navy policy is to process for separation all Navy service members who refuse the lawful order to receive the COVID-19 vaccination and do not have an approved exemption. All waiver requests are reviewed on a case-by-case basis and each request will be given full consideration with respect to the facts and circumstances submitted in the request.
• The Navy issued a press release outlining guidance to commands for service members who refuse to comply with the service’s order mandating all active-duty and reserve members be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in NAVADMIN 256/21, released Nov. 15, 2021.

Definitions:

• Fully Vaccinated: Per NAVADMIN 190/21, Navy service members are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after completing the second dose of a two-dose COVID-19 vaccine or two weeks after receiving a single dose of a one-dose COVID-19 vaccine. Booster shots are still under evaluation and will be addressed via separate message.
• Unvaccinated: Per NAVADMIN 249/21, this includes Navy service members who:
  • refused the vaccine,
  • started the vaccination series, but are not complete,
  • are pending medical exemption,
  • have an approved medical exemption,
  • are pending religious accommodation exemption,
  • have an approved religious exemption,
  • have not had access to the vaccination due to operational schedule and/or remote location.
• Medical: Medical exemptions will be determined by health care providers based on the health of the requestor, and the nature of the immunization under consideration in line with BUMEDINST 6230.15B and MILPERSMAN 1730-020.
• Administrative (Admin): To include Permanent Change of Station (PCS), Emergency Leave, Separation, and Admin Temporary, etc.
  • Admin PCS: For individual already checked out of the command due to permanent change of station and awaiting to be gained at their next command. (Individuals should be vaccinated prior to permanent change status whenever possible).
  • Admin Temporary: For individual that is operationally unavailable for vaccination. For example, deployed to a location or region where the mandatory vaccine is unavailable.
• Religious Accommodation: A religious accommodation is a category of administrative exemptions that provides an accommodation to a service member for an otherwise applicable military policy, practice, or duty. In accordance with The Religious Freedom Restoration Act, if such a military policy, practice or duty substantially burdens a service member’s exercise of religious, accommodation unless:

1. The military policy, practice, or duty is in furtherance of a compelling governmental interest (e.g. mission accomplishment, safety, force health).
2. It is the least restrictive means of furthering that compelling governmental interest.

For more information, including frequently asked questions and Navy instructions, visit https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/Support-Services/Religious-Accommodations/

Hyperlinks to Navy Administrative Messages:

• NAVADMIN 289/21: Guidance Encouraging COVID-19 Vaccine Booster
• NAVADMIIN 283/21: CCDA Execution Guidance to Commanders
• NAVADMIN 256/21: COVID-19 Consolidated Disposition Authority (CCDA) Guidance to Commanders
• NAVADMIN 249/21: CCDA Reporting Requirements
• NAVADMIN 225/21: COVID-19 Consolidated Disposition Authority (CCDA)
• ALNAV 062/21: Department of the Navy Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination Policy 
• NAVADMIN 190/21: 2021-2022 Navy Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination and Reporting Policy

Navy Updates Guidance for COVID-19 Vaccine Refusal

From MC1 Mark D. Faram, Chief of Naval Personnel Public Affairs

November 15, 2021

WASHINGTON - The Navy issued follow-on guidance to commands for service members who refuse to comply with the service's order mandating all active-duty and reserve members be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in NAVADMIN 256/21, released on Nov. 15.

This latest guidance outlines for commanders the administrative actions required for those who refuse to comply with the Navy's vaccine mandate.

Currently, 95 percent of the active-duty force is fully vaccinated, and over 99 percent have received at least one shot in the series. The Navy's deadline for full vaccination is Nov. 28.

Since COVID-19 vaccines became available in late 2020, the Navy's stated policy has always been to achieve a fully vaccinated force to ensure the service's readiness.

The vaccination became mandatory in August at the direction of the Secretary of Defense. Now, as with many other vaccines, COVID-19 immunization is required for full medical and deployment qualification.

"In order to ensure a fully vaccinated force, it is U.S. Navy policy to separate all Navy service members who refuse the lawful order to receive the COVID-19 vaccination," Vice Adm. John B. Nowell, Jr., the chief of naval personnel wrote, in the message. "The least favorable characterization of service for Navy service members refusing the vaccine, without extenuating circumstances, will be GENERAL (under honorable conditions)."

A general discharge will, at the discretion of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), result in the loss of eligibility for some VA benefits such as the GI Bill, to include the transfer of GI Bill benefits to dependents.

The service is currently reviewing medical and religious COVID-19 vaccine exemption requests. Sailors requesting these exemptions will not be processed for separation or be subject to administrative consequences for refusal while their request is being adjudicated.

However, if operational readiness and mission requirements require, commanders can temporarily reassign Sailors with the approval of the first flag officer in their chain of command.

If denied an exemption, Sailors must start vaccinations within five days of receiving that disapproval. Beyond that deadline, commands will begin processing them for discharge. Decisions on whether to suspend or go ahead with separation after that deadline will be made by the Navy's Consolidated Disposition Authority (CCDA).

Commands should start preparing for administrative separations for any Navy service members refusing the vaccine in their ranks. However, commands must hold the paperwork locally until further guidance is issued on when to send the requests. That information will be released in a future NAVADMIN at the beginning of December.

Within thirty days after refusing the vaccine, commands must issue adverse fitness reports and evaluations documenting service members' failure to comply with the Navy's Individual Medical Readiness responsibilities.

This adverse performance report triggers several cascading impacts on Navy service members refusing the vaccine.

Both enlisted and officers who refuse the vaccine will no longer be eligible to promote or advance, meaning anyone already frocked to the next pay grade will see that privilege revoked immediately.

Spot promoted officers will be removed from their billets. The message states that officers with pending promotions will see those actions put on hold because of "pending administrative action and physical disqualification."

For enlisted Sailors, passing the deadline initially puts any pending advancements on hold. This includes automatic time-in-grade advancements to paygrades E-2 and E-3, and ultimate advancements to those frocked to E-4 through E-9. Once the adverse evaluation is issued, these advancements become permanently revoked because the evaluation removes their advancement recommendation.

Refusing the vaccine also results in the service member no longer being eligible to re-enlist or extend. As a result, any pending agreements will be canceled. 

Navy service members refusing the vaccine will not be allowed to transfer on Permanent Change of Station moves. Affected commands and individuals should contact Navy Personnel Command (NPC) or their detailer directly. NPC will address each case individually, including those who have already begun the transfer process.

Also, those refusing the vaccine are no longer eligible for bonuses and special or incentive pays. Repayment will be required for any unearned portions already received. Some examples include, but are not limited to, career retention bonuses, enlistment bonuses and incentive pays such as flight or dive pay.

Removal of warfare qualifications, additional qualification designations, Navy Enlisted Classifications, or sub-specialties for Navy service members refusing the vaccine is also possible. Any such decisions, the message states, will be up to the community sponsors and in line with existing policies set for service members not maintaining their deployment or individual medical readiness.

Vaccine refusal has a broad impact on education programs, including losing eligibility for Tuition Assistance (TA) and the Department of Defense's Skillbridge training program for transitioning service members.

Those using TA will either lose command approval for upcoming classes or be withdrawn from classes that have already started.

Vaccine refusal also impacts Initial entry and in-service Navy paid education programs for officers. These include U.S. Naval Academy, Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps and Health Professional Scholarship Program graduates who have yet to complete their initial obligated service. These Navy service members will be on the hook for a pro-rated portion of their education costs.

Others who received specialized Navy Training could be subject to reimbursement on a case by case basis.

"If in doubt as to how to adjudicate issues related to a Navy service member refusing the vaccine, seek guidance from your chain of command, your staff judge advocate, or the CCDA before acting," Nowell wrote. "In all cases, you are accountable to ensure the health and safety of your command while treating every Navy service member with dignity and respect."

Details on these topics and more are available in NAVADMIN 256/21.

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