Thousands of active-duty Marines remain unvaccinated amid an increase in discharges for those who have refused the jab.

The coronavirus vaccine deadline for the Marines occurred weeks ago, and as of Thursday, 94% of active-duty troops are fully vaccinated, according to data from the service branch. An additional 1% are partially vaccinated.

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Five percent of the 182,500 active-duty force equals roughly 9,125 active-duty Marines who have not been vaccinated, though that number includes troops who have received or requested an exemption.

Among those unvaccinated Marines, 169 have been removed from their positions for their refusal. The percentage of those discharged represents slightly less than one-tenth of 1% of the total active-duty Marines.

According to the latest data, 1,026 Marines have been approved for an administrative or medical exemption, with 3,192 requests for religious accommodations. No religious exemptions have been approved, but 112 requests remain unprocessed.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin mandated the vaccine in August, though he allowed each branch to determine how to implement and enforce their orders. Each of the service's deadlines for active-duty members has passed, though some reservists still have time to get the vaccine depending on their branch.

The Army, Navy, and Air Force all have slightly higher vaccination rates, with each reporting nearly or more than 98% of members have gotten at least one shot, according to the Associated Press.

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Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby has said there are "active" conversations within Defense Department leadership about whether to mandate the booster shot, though there have been no formal announcements.