Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the Government's policy is on sanctions for armed forces personnel who refuse to receive the covid-19 vaccination.

Within Defence, vaccinations are administered under the principles of informed consent. For some operational deployments and roles all personnel must be vaccinated either to manage medical risks, maintain critical capabilities, or if a host nation requires it as a condition of entry.

Those refusing or unable to take a COVID-19 vaccine may be ineligible to deploy or undertake certain roles, and we would seek to identify an alternate role for those affected.