The US Air Force says 27 service members has been discharged for refusing to receive a Covid-19 vaccine, the first active-duty troops believed to have been removed for declining the vaccine, Reuters reports.

The Pentagon made the vaccine mandatory for all service members in August and the vast majority of active-duty troops have received at least one dose.

The Air Force gave its forces until Nov 2 to get the vaccine, and thousands have either refused or sought an exemption. Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek said on Monday that these are the first airmen to be administratively discharged for reasons involving the vaccine.