Today, the Department of Defense released the Force Health Protection Guidance (Supplement 23) Revision 1, which rescinds and replaces three Department of Defense memorandums and provides updated guidance for implementing additional force health protection and workplace safety measures directed by the White House Safer Federal Workforce Task Force to reduce the transmission of the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
As per Executive Order 14043 and guidance from the Safer Federal Workforce Task Force, DoD civilian employees are now required to be fully vaccinated by November 22, 2021, subject to exemptions as required by law. For purposes of this guidance, "DoD civilian employee," includes foreign nationals employed by DoD outside the United States, to the maximum extent possible while respecting host nation agreements and laws. It also includes DoD civilian employees who are engaged in full-time telework or remote work.
Heads of DoD Components and the Director of Administration and Management (for the Office of the Secretary of Defense Components, the Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Joint Staff, the Defense Agencies, and DoD Field Activities) will publish any necessary supplemental instructions and ensure that all contract and associated funding implications are considered.
DoD Components should engage with DoD civilian employee unions as they develop supplemental guidance and otherwise satisfy any applicable collective bargaining obligations under the law at the earliest convenience, including on a post-implementation basis.
The memorandum for Force Health Protection Guidance (Supplement 23) Revision 1 - Department of Defense Guidance for Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccination Attestation, Screening Testing, and Vaccination Verification can be found here.