The US military is expected to announce the new policy this Friday, The New York Times has found. The updated rules would mean around 1.3 million US military personnel will need to be jabbed.

       Experts are hopeful that the new rules will increase vaccinations in the country when people see troops getting the jab.

       “When people see that these guys got the vaccine and nothing happened to them, that could be decisive,” Dr. Ezekiel J. Emanuel, a University of Pennsylvania bioethicist and Biden transition adviser, told the Times.

       “People admire our military. They can serve as a positive example.”

       Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin told CNN the “inclination is towards making the COVID-19 vaccine mandatory” for all active duty troops.

       READ MORE: Covid vaccine: 16 and 17 years old to receive Pfizer vaccine

       On July 29, the US President announced he was asking the Defense Department when the Covid jab will be made mandatory for troops.

       Joe Biden said that he was aware the Defence Secretary was “open to it”.

       Last week, Biden announced all federal employees must be double vaccinated or face the inconvenience of receiving weekly tests, mandatory masks and social distancing.

       Other major US companies require at least some of their employees to be vaccinated.

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       The list includes the Walt Disney Company, Google, Facebook, Tyson Foods and Uber.

       In the US, nearly half of the population is fully vaccinated and about 70 percent of adults have had their first jab.

       The Defence Secretary wrote on Twitter in mid-July that 70 percent of active service members have received their first dose of the vaccine.

       “I’m pleased to report that as of today, 70 percent of active duty service members have received their first COVID-19 vaccination, and 62 percent of active duty are fully vaccinated #WeCanDoThis,” he tweeted.

       “I got my shots, and I hope you will too. It will take all of us to control this virus."