Pentagon to administer 1M vaccines by weekend

U.S. service members are refusing or putting off COVID-19 vaccine by thousands, as frustrated commanders scramble to kck down internet rumours and find right pitch that will persue troops to get shot.

Some Army units are seeing as few as one-third agree to vaccine.

Military leers searching for answers believe y have identified one potential convincer: an imminent deployment.

Navy sailors on ships heing out to sea last week, for example, were choosing to take shot at rates exceeding 80% to 90%.

Air Force Maj. Gen. Jeff Taliaferro, vice director of operations for Joint Staff, told Congress on Wednesday that "very early data" suggests that just up to two-thirds of service members offered vaccine have accepted.

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby briefing reporters Wednesday said, "We've ministered 88.2 per cent of vaccines on hand as of today."

He ded "we've ministered 916,575. And we expect by Friday, by end of week, to be over one million marks."

That's higher than rate for general population, which a recent survey by Kaiser Family Foundation put at roughly 50%.

But significant number of forces declining vaccine is especially worrisome because troops often live, work and fight closely toger in environments where social distancing and wearing masks, at times, are difficult.

military's resistance also comes as troops are deploying to minister shots at vaccination centres around country and as leers look to American forces to set an example for nation.

Service leers have vigorously campaigned for vaccine.

y have held town halls, written messs to force, distributed scientific data, posted videos, and even put out photos of leers getting vaccinated.

For weeks, Pentagon insisted it did t kw how many troops were declining vaccine.

On Wednesday y provided few details on ir early data.

"It's in our interest to be as open and transparent as we can. And we're trying to do that. It's a voluntary vaccine. People decide for mselves if y want it or t," Kirby said.

Officials from individual military services, however, said in interviews with Associated Press that refusal rates vary widely, depending on a service member's , unit, location, deployment status and or intangibles.

During briefing, a reporter asked if data on service members getting vaccine was being held back by Department of Defense.

"body's hiding data. re'd be reason for us to hide data when we can certainly tell you exactly how many people are getting vaccines," Kirby said.