Governor Requests Pentagon To Suspend Vaccine Mandate For Oklahoma National Guard Members

Governor Kevin Stitt is asking the Department of Defense to suspend its COVID-19 vaccine mandate for Oklahoman National Guard members.

In a letter to the Secretary of Defense, the governor says, in part: "It is irresponsible for the federal government to place mandatory vaccine obligations on Oklahoma national guardsmen, which could potentially limit the number of individuals that I can call upon to assist the state during an emergency."

The governor's office estimates 800 guard members, or about 10 percent of the total force, have not or will not get the vaccine.