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Military troops must immediately begin to get the COVID-19 vaccine, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a memo Wednesday, ordering service leaders to “impose ambitious timelines for implementation.” More than 800,000 service members have yet to get their shots, according to Pentagon data. And now that the Pfizer vaccine has received full approval from the Food and Drug Administration, the Defense Department is adding it to the list of required shots troops must get as part of their military service. (Baldor, 8/25)

Gov. Greg Abbott issued a new executive order on Wednesday clarifying that no localities or school districts can require their employees to get the COVID vaccine, after the federal approval of the Pfizer doses earlier this week muddied his previous directive on the matter. Abbott’s new order, like the previous one, prohibits public institutions — including state agencies, universities, local governments, public schools and any other entities that receive public funding — from compelling employees to get the shots or asking people who use their services for proof of vaccination. (Harris, 8/25)

The Episcopal Diocese of Maine is mandating COVID-19 vaccines for all clergy and diocesan staff. Maine Bishop Thomas Brown's decision marks one of the first vaccine mandates for clergy in the U.S., per the Religious News Service. Brown issued the directive on Monday for some 240 clergy and 14 staff members to be fully vaccinated against the coronavirus by Sept. 30, unless they provide medical exemption documentation. (Falconer, 8/25)

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Las Vegas will not issue letters of exemption for the Covid-19 vaccine on religious grounds, the diocese told pastors Monday. After "careful and prayerful consideration" based on reports from pastors in the diocese that they have received a small amount of such requests, Bishop George Leo Thomas said he believed that issuing vaccine exemptions would contradict guidance from Pope Francis, according to a communication obtained by CNN. (Holcombe and Boyette, 8/26)

Northwestern Medicine is the latest Chicago-area health system to require that workers be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The announcement follows full FDA approval for Pfizer’s two-dose vaccine and mandates at 11 of the largest local health systems. Northwestern workers must be fully vaccinated by Oct. 31, the 11-hospital system said in a statement today, noting that nearly 80 percent of doctors and staff already got their shots. Employees can apply for medical and religious exemptions. (Goldberg, 8/25)

KHN: New Montana Law Sows Confusion, Defiance Over School Quarantines 

As classes get underway this week and next, Montana school and county health officials are grappling with how a new state law that bans vaccine discrimination should apply to quarantine orders for students and staffers exposed to covid-19. It’s the latest fallout from the law that says businesses and governmental entities can’t treat people differently based on vaccination status. The law makes Montana the only state that prohibits both public and private employers — including hospitals — from requiring workers to get vaccinated against covid. (Bolton, 8/26)