A US Navy commander has been fired from his job as the executive officer of a warship because he refused to get a Covid-19 vaccine as required and refused to be tested for the virus, Navy officials said.

Commander Lucian Kins was relieved of his duties as second in command of the USS Winston Churchill, a destroyer, by Navy Captain Ken Anderson, commander of Naval Surface Squadron 14. Officials said Kins was the first naval officer to be fired as a result of a vaccine refusal, AP reported.

One official said Kins has requested a religious exemption, which was denied. Kins is appealing that denial.