Since last month, the number of troops who were discharged for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine has more than doubled, according to the Army's latest figures released on Friday.

According to the army, at least 742 active-duty troops have been discharged due to their rejection. The total was 345 on April 20.

In addition to COVID-19, troops must take a slew of other vaccines, including those for smallpox, hepatitis, and influenza. On the other hand, troops are not required to receive any COVID-19 booster doses. Currently, 97 percent of active-duty Army personnel are completely immunized.

Soldiers who refused the immunization received 3,416 general officer reprimands in addition to the separations. The reprimands are widely seen as career-ending in the military.

Soldiers can be exempted from the immunization for religious or medical reasons, but these are extremely rare.

The Army has approved only nine of 4,428 religious exemption applications. It's unclear how those nine soldiers presented their case. Personnel seeking a religious exemption may face a difficult uphill battle if they don't object to the service's other vaccine requirements.

Army officials have approved 22 of the 732 medical exemptions requested thus far. COVID- According to a report from the JAMA Network, 19 immunizations have been considered safe. Still, they have a tiny chance of triggering various health conditions such as heart inflammation, which has harmed at least 22 service members.

The new separation figures come a month before the Army Reserve and National Guard's inoculation deadline, which is set for the end of June.

In the face of Republican opposition to pandemic-related demands, some governors have opposed the Pentagon's directive for the National Guard, claiming they will not expel any refusers.

It's still uncertain whether those governors will carry out their threat. The rules that Guardsmen must obey can alter depending on the sort of mission and whether it is under state or federal directives.