R 061806Z OCT 21
MARADMIN 533/21
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC PPO//
SUBJ/SUPPLEMENTAL GUIDANCE TO MANDATORY COVID-19 VACCINATION OF MARINE CORPS ACTIVE AND RESERVE COMPONENTS//
REF/A/MSG/MARADMIN 462/21//
REF/B/DOC/SECDEF/24AUG21//
REF/C/DOC/HQMC HS/15SEP21//
REF/D/DOC/USN/21SEP21//
REF/E/DOC/CMC/12JUL21//
REF A IS MARADMIN 462/21, MANDATORY COVID-19 VACCINATION OF MARINE CORPS ACTIVE AND RESERVE COMPONENTS. REF B IS OSD MEMO, MANDATORY CORONAVIRUS DISEASE 2019 VACCINATION OF DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE SERVICE MEMBERS. REF C IS HEALTH SERVICES MEMO, MARINE CORPS COVID-19 VACCINATION – AMPLIFYING GUIDANCE PERTAINING TO EXEMPTION DOCUMENTATION AND APPROVAL. REF D IS BUMED NOTE 6150, GUIDANCE FOR CORONAVIRUS DISEASE 2019 VACCINATION DEFERRAL STATUS REPORTING. REF E IS MARINE CORPS ORDER 1730.9, ACCOMMODATION OF RELIGIOUS PRACTICES IN THE MARINE CORPS.//
POC/MARINE CORPS COVID-19 CELL/PP&O/HQMC/TEL: (703) 604-5307/NIPR EMAIL: SMB_HQMC_MCCAT@USMC.MIL//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. Background and General Guidance. This guidance is a Headquarters Marine Corps coordinated update.
1. Guidance contained herein supplements ref (a), Service policy on implementation of Secretary of Defense-directed mandatory Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination of Department of Defense (DoD) service members as provided in ref (b).
2. Supplemental guidance.
2.a. In order to meet Commandant-directed deadlines as stated in ref (a), all active component service members must receive their first dose of Pfizer-BioNTech/COMIRNATY vaccine no later than 24 October 2021 and all reserve component service members must receive their first dose no later than 24 November 2021. All active component service members must receive their second dose of Pfizer-BioNTech/COMIRNATY vaccine no later than 14 November 2021 and all reserve component service members must receive their second dose no later than 14 December 2021.
2.b. Service members who elect to receive a Food and Drug Administration Emergency Use Authorization COVID-19 vaccine (e.g., Janssen or Moderna) or a vaccine included in the World Health Organization Emergency Use Listing (e.g., AstraZeneca) in lieu of the Pfizer-BioNTech/COMIRNATY vaccine will ensure completion of final dose no later than their respective component deadline (i.e., active component service member will receive a first dose of Moderna no later than 17 October 2021 and final dose no later than 14 November 2021, or single dose of Janssen no later than 14 November 2021; reserve component service members will receive a first dose of Moderna no later than 16 November 2021 and final dose no later than 14 December 2021, or single dose of Janssen no later than 14 December 2021.)
2.c. All administrative exemptions (to include refusals, and requests for religious accommodation) and medical exemptions shall be documented in the Medical Readiness Reporting System (MRRS) no later than 24 October 2021 for the active component, and no later than 24 November 2021 for the reserve component.
2.c.1. Per ref (a), medical exemptions will be documented in the Electronic Health Record, and administrative exemptions will be documented directly in MRRS, to the maximum extent practical. Commands should be aware that, at this time, Military Health System (MHS) GENESIS, one of two current MHS Electronic Health Records, cannot transmit administrative or medical temporary exemptions to MRRS. Commands supported by Military Treatment Facilities using MHS GENESIS shall document all exemptions directly into MRRS.
2.c.2. Permanent medical exemptions shall be assessed, granted, and documented per ref (a), and per amplifying guidance in ref (c). Temporary medical exemptions require authorization by a licensed DoD healthcare provider in accordance with ref (a). Commands without access to a licensed DoD healthcare provider should contact HQMC Health Services at covid_med_review@usmc.mil, or at 703-604-4602 for further assistance.
2.c.3. Religious accommodation requests shall be submitted per ref (e). Commands shall forward requests for religious accommodation expeditiously. When commands forward the requests to Deputy Commandant, Manpower and Reserve Affairs (DC, M&RA), the individual will be coded in MRRS as “Religious Accommodation Requested,” pending final disposition.
2.c.4. Refusals will be coded in MRRS as “Admin Refusal”. Commanders, Commanding Officers, and Officers in Charge may initiate adverse administrative or judicial proceedings in accordance with their authority as outlined in ref (a) when a Marine has refused to take the vaccine. There is no requirement to delay action until the deadlines established in paragraph 2.a. The following are examples of administrative and legal process flows, meant to guide leaders, not bind them to a particular course of action:
Example 1: Commanding Officer (CO) orders Marine to take the vaccine. Marine refuses and does not request a medical exemption or religious accommodation. The CO will document the refusal in MRRS as “Admin Refusal” and the General Court-Martial Convening Authority (GCMCA) may initiate adverse administrative or judicial proceedings.
Example 2: CO orders Marine to take the vaccine. Marine requests a medical exemption. Marine is assessed by a licensed DoD healthcare provider in accordance with refs (a) and (c). CO takes no further action at this time. If the Marine qualifies for a permanent medical exemption, the approving medical authority will enter “Medical Permanent” in MRRS. If the Marine requires further medical evaluation to determine whether a permanent medical exemption is warranted, the cognizant medical authority will enter “Medical Temporary” in MRRS pending decision on permanent medical exemption. If the Marine qualifies for a temporary medical exemption, the approving medical authority will enter “Medical Temporary” in MRRS. If the Marine is found not to qualify for a medical exemption, or if a temporary medical exemption expires and is assessed by medical not to warrant renewal, order the Marine to take the vaccine. If Marine refuses, the CO will code “Admin Refusal” in MRRS and the GCMCA may initiate adverse administrative or judicial proceedings.
Example 3: CO orders Marine to take the vaccine. Marine requests a religious accommodation. Enter “Religious Accommodation Requested” in MRRS. If the religious accommodation request is approved, ensure the appropriate MRRS code is noted and take no further action. If the request is denied, order the Marine to take the vaccine. If Marine refuses, the CO will change the code in MRRS to “Admin Refusal” and the GCMCA may initiate adverse administrative or judicial proceedings.
3. Administration.
3.a. Ref (d) provides guidance for documenting COVID-19 vaccine administrative and medical exemptions in MRRS. Ref (d) should only be referenced to guide the documentation process and available exemption codes in MRRS.
3.b. Per ref (b), service members with previous COVID-19 infection are not considered fully vaccinated. Service members seeking a medical exemption based on previous COVID-19 infection or positive serology should consult their licensed DoD healthcare provider.
3.c. Service members may at any time, choose to receive a COVID-19 vaccination despite their previous decision to seek an exemption or religious accommodation, or despite their previous refusal to receive the COVID-19 vaccination. Service members should notify their command immediately if they choose to be vaccinated for COVID-19 after an exemption has been sought, or an administrative or legal process has been initiated.
4. Command and Signal.
4.a. Command. This MARADMIN applies to the Total Force.
4.b. Signal. This MARADMIN is effective upon release. Ensure widest dissemination.
5. Release authorized by Lieutenant General D. J. Furness Deputy Commandant, Plans, Policies, and Operations.//