Pentagon Wary of Forced Shots Even After 161,000 Cases of Covid

President Joe Biden and Pentagon leaders are reluctant to compel U.S. troops to receive coronavirus vaccines, even as about one-third of service members have declined shots so far.

Keeping the inoculation voluntary is puzzling some medical experts and lawmakers because the military deploys and trains in close quarters and is assisting with the pandemic response. At the same time, others warn that mandating vaccines could backfire with the public.

The president, with the counsel and backing of the defense secretary, could require the vaccines by issuing waivers in the interest of national security. The U.S. military so far has had ...