Us Military Has Historically Struggled With Vaccine Hesitancy
Flu shots are placed at the ready during a large-scale vaccination effort by the New Jersey Air National Guards 108th Medical Group at the 108th Wing, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., on Nov. 6, 2021. US Air National Guard Photo
The military gave its service members an ultimatum. Get vaccinated or face separation.
Service members were skeptical. A majority of the people who received the multi-shot vaccine reported side effects, and a lack of information from the military-led to misinformation.
While the situation sounds like the one currently facing the military as it issues mandates for the COVID-19 vaccine, the issue was over the anthrax vaccine mandated in 1998.
Faced with the choice of getting vaccinated or leaving, some service members chose the former. The Air Force, in particular, likely saw an estimated 16 percent its guard and reserve force leave, transfer to avoid the vaccine or change their status to non-active in two years, according to a 2002 GAO report.
Inhaled anthrax was a concern for those headed to the Middle East, as the Department of Defense considered it a possible biological weapon that could be used on the battlefield, according to the report.
Between 1998 to 2004, approximately 500 service members were separated due to their refusal to take the vaccine, said Trupti Brahmbhatt, a senior policy researcher with RAND Corporation.
Us Military Will Mandate Vaccinations For Troops
John Kirby, the Pentagon press secretary, said Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III will seek approval to make coronavirus vaccinations mandatory for U.S. active-duty troops by September.
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He will request approval from the president for a waiver to make the Covid vaccines mandatory by mid-September. Hell make the request for the waiver by mid-September. Ive seen some reporting out there that means that all the troops have to be vaccinated by mid-September. Thats not accurate. Hell make the request by mid-September unless or until F.D.A. licensure occurs before that time, at which point the secretary has the authority he needs upon F.D.A. licensure to issue to make whatever vaccine is then given that license mandatory. Until these vaccines become mandatory, we continue to want to appeal to a sense of teamwork among the unvaccinated service members in the force that this isnt just about you. Its about your ship. Its about your platoon. Its about your squadron. Its your opportunity to contribute to the health and readiness of your teammates, and thereby the nation. Were seeing an uptick in cases, uptick in hospitalizations across the force as we are in the country. And the Delta variant is a factor in that. So were going to watch it closely. And as the secretary told the force today, if he needs to move act sooner than this timeline then hell do that.
Military Members Will Be Required To Get Jabs Beginning In Mid
Members of the U.S. military would be required to have the COVID-19 vaccine beginning Sept. 15, under a plan announced by the Pentagon Monday and endorsed by U.S. President Joe Biden.
That deadline could be pushed up if the vaccine receives final FDA approval or infection rates continue to rise.
“I will seek the president’s approval to make the vaccines mandatory no later than mid-September, or immediately upon” licensure by the Food and Drug Administration “whichever comes first,” U.S. Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said in the memo to troops, warning them to prepare for the requirement.
He added that if infection rates rise and potentially affect military readiness, “I will not hesitate to act sooner or recommend a different course to the President if l feel the need to do so. To defend this Nation, we need a healthy and ready force.”
Austin’s plan provides time for the FDA to give final approval to the Pfizer vaccine, which is expected early next month. Without that formal approval, Austin would need a waiver from Biden to make the shots mandatory. Biden has made it clear he supports that.
In a statement Monday, Biden said he strongly support’s “Austin’s message to the Force today on the Department of Defence’s plan to add the COVID-19 vaccine to the list of required vaccinations for our service members not later than mid-September.”
Austin’s memo to the force went out Monday.
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Senior Leaders Face Quick Action If They Refuse
There is very little wiggle room for senior Army leaders in the service’s new guidelines.
Commanders, sergeants major, first sergeants and other senior officers who refuse the vaccine order and don’t have a pending exemption decision “will be suspended … provided a reasonable period not to exceed five calendar days to respond, and then be subject to relief of their duties,” the Army documents say.
“I believe accountability starts with Leaders — you cannot lead Soldiers by disobeying lawful orders,” the force’s top enlisted leader, Sergeant Major of the Army Michael Grinston, said Tuesday on Twitter.
Editorâs Note: This story has been updated with more information about medical exemptions for pregnant women.
— Steve Beynon can be reached at . Follow him on Twitter @StevenBeynon.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin Iii Said He Is Planning To Mandate All Military Service Members Get The Coronavirus Vaccine
In this Feb. 9, 2021, photo provided by the Department of Defense, Hickam 15th Medical Group host the first COVID-19 mass vaccination on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.
U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Anthony Nelson Jr., Department of Defense via Associated Press
The highest leaders of Americas armed forces, from the commander in chief to the chairman of the joint chiefs, are preparing to mandate the COVID-19 vaccine for the military.
In a Message to the Force memorandum the Defense Department published Monday, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III said he would ask President Joe Biden to approve an order that makes the COVID-19 vaccine mandatory for military service members.
The defense secretary, who had served in the U.S. Army for 41 years, said he had consulted with seniors military leader and health care professionals before making the decision. He added that the vaccine mandate would begin in by mid-September or as soon as the Food and Drug Administration formally approves a vaccine, whichever comes first.
- To defend this Nation, we need a healthy and ready force. I strongly encourage all DoD military and civilian personnel as well as contractor personnel to get vaccinated now and for military Service members to not wait for the mandate, Austin wrote on Twitter.
Biden said he agreed with the defense secretarys decision.
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Covid Vaccine: Can Us Troops Be Punished For Refusing The Jabs
On 28 November, two key branches of the US military – the Navy and the Marines – will hit a deadline for their members to get Covid jabs, yet thousands of America’s armed forces members remain unvaccinated.
Some 2.1 million people are part of the US military, including active and non-active members, and defence officials have warned that troops that refuse could face a range of consequences.
Are unvaccinated soldiers and sailors a threat to national security – and what consequences might they face?
Here’s what we know.
Us Military And Vaccine History
Military research programs throughout history have made significant contributions to medicine and, in particular, to vaccine development. These efforts have been driven primarily by the effects of infectious disease on military conflicts: smallpox devastated the Continental Army in 1776, as well as troops on both sides of the United States Civil War typhoid fever was common among soldiers in the Spanish American War. More person-days were lost among U.S. soldiers in malaria-endemic regions to malaria than to bullets throughout the entire 20th century indeed, malaria continues to sap military strength into the current century.
To respond to these diseases and the many others that threaten both soldiers and the public, military forces have devoted significant time and effort toward public health methods and medical research.
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Can Personnel Refuse The Vaccine
The vaccinations are mandatory, and US defence officials have warned that disciplinary action is possible for those who say “no” – though there can be medical exemptions or religious accommodation.
As of early November, the various branches of the US military had reported only issuing a handful of exemptions, though the exact figures have not been released.
Military law attorney Mike Hanzel, a former Navy Judge Advocate General, said exemptions would likely be rare.
“For religious exemptions, the military must essentially have evidence that this is a very strongly held belief that didn’t just come up because of this particular vaccine,” he said. “In the military, you take a lot of vaccines. Every single person has gotten a lot of shots.”
Mr Kirby has said that military commanders will first “try to get these troops to make the right decision based on information and education”.
In instances of refusal, “they’ll be given a chance to get more context from medical service providers as well as their chain of command”, he said.
If those options are exhausted, “there could be disciplinary action”, he added.
Practical Issues In Program Implementation
Most vaccines require continuous refrigeration. A few require storage in a freezer. Maintaining the cold chain to ensure injection of potent vaccines appears simple but requires considerable effort . In World War II, smallpox vaccine was transported by propeller-driven aircraft over long distances, using kerosene-powered refrigerators or packed in dry ice. Improper vaccine storage was one of the principal factors in breakthrough infections. In January 1946, a special shipment of smallpox vaccine was ordered from the US mainland, after doubts arose about the potency of vaccine on the Korean peninsula . Today, monitoring devices can record the temperature of vaccine shipments, allowing improperly handled product to be replaced rather than injected.
Documentation of immunizations is important to record a health-care encounter and to avoid redundant immunization at future health-care visits. During World War II, tetanus immunizations were marked on troops’ identification tags and on paper records . Increasingly since the 1990s, the Department of Defense uses electronic immunization tracking systems to permanently record immunizations, even if paper records are lost .
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Prophylaxis Of Diseases With Ecologic Niches
Deployment vaccines include those vaccines administered to personnel sent to regions where the risk of contracting a specific endemic vaccine-preventable disease is increased. Deployment vaccines include typhoid, hepatitis B, meningococcal, yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis, and rabies. The first few were discussed above. Beyond its use in military basic training, meningococcal immunization may be required for specific assignments .
Soldiers Who Refuse Vaccination Can Still Serve But Their Careers Are Over
Army officials are telling soldiers who refuse to get vaccinated against COVID-19 that they aren’t getting booted immediately, but they can’t stay in the service for a career.
In a memo to the force last week, Army Secretary Christine Wormuth said active-duty soldiers, reservists and Guardsmen who refuse the vaccine will be “flagged,” meaning they will be barred from reenlistment, promotions and potentially most schools.
But soldiers won’t be outright removed automatically. Hypothetically, a soldier with years left on their contract can still serve, but will see no progress in their career and will not be allowed to serve beyond that contract. They could leave with an honorable discharge.
The deadline to be vaccinated is Dec. 15 for active-duty soldiers and June 30 for Reserve and Army National Guard troops.
“At this time, the secretary has not authorized any separations with the sole basis being refusal to follow the COVID-19 vaccination order,” Lt. Col. Gabriel Ramirez, an Army spokesman, said in a statement Monday to Military.com.
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The consequences vary for more senior ranks. Sergeants major, first sergeants and officers who refuse inoculation face possible relief of duty.
— Steve Beynon can be reached at . Follow him on Twitter @StevenBeynon.
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Proof Of Vaccination For Caf Members
Canadian Armed Forces members who receive a COVID-19 vaccination from the CAF are provided with proof of vaccination. This can be in the form of an entry in a vaccination booklet, a sheet of paper or card, or a digital passport with QR-Code. Vaccination details are also logged into the Canadian Forces Health Information System, the CAF electronic health information management system where members health records are stored.
What Are The Repercussions If I Refuse
This issue will likely be contested in court, and with the recent FDA approval of the vaccine, Courts will now have to decide on a new issue of whether forcing an unapproved vaccine on the nations protectors is a necessary and safe precaution.
Unfortunately, those who refuse to take the vaccine will likely face an administrative separation and could face criminal prosecution. This is regardless of your rank or years in the service. Hopefully, commands will be reasonable and understanding, but it is never too early to start gearing up for your defense.
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Current Status Of Select Military Vaccine
provides an overview of USAMRMC’s infectious disease research program, showing the Joint Technology Coordinating Group-2 priority ranking and the funding available to each research activity. Brief descriptions of the current status of the select vaccine research programs supported by the Military Infectious Diseases Research Program appear in the following paragraphs.
USAMRMC Fiscal Year 2001 Program Priorities, in Decreasing JTCG-2Assigned Rank, and FY 2000 Investment in Exploratory Research.
Army Says Soldiers Must Be Vaccinated By Dec 15 Or Face Consequences
The Army will require all of its active duty soldiers to complete their full COVID-19 vaccinations by the middle of December.
The implementation plan is in response to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austins Aug. 24 orders that all active duty service members must get vaccinated.
Army Reserve and Army National Guard units must be vaccinated by the end of next June. In total, more than a million soldiers are required to get the shot. Under the…
The Army will require all of its active duty soldiers to complete their full COVID-19 vaccinations by the middle of December.
The implementation plan is in response to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austins Aug. 24 orders that all active duty service members must get vaccinated.
Army Reserve and Army National Guard units must be vaccinated by the end of next June. In total, more than a million soldiers are required to get the shot. Under the policy, those who have previously had COVID must still get vaccinated.
This is quite literally a matter of life and death for our soldiers, their families and the communities in which we live, said Lt. Gen. R. Scott Dingle, the Army surgeon general. Case counts and deaths continue to be concerning as the delta variant spreads, which makes protecting the force through mandatory vaccination a health and readiness priority for the total Army.
Soldiers who refuse vaccinations without an exemption will be reprimanded.
Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard members must be vaccinated by Dec. 2.
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Medical Exemptions & Pregnant Women
Medical exemptions may be given to soldiers with legitimate health concerns backed by medical professionals. For example, soldiers who had adverse reactions to previous vaccines may be excused from future shots.
However, adverse reactions, such as heart inflammation, are incredibly rare.
Those seeking a medical exemption still will be counseled by their commander and referred to a medical professional for evaluation.
Exemptions may be temporary, given for up to a year, or permanent, according to the Army documents. An Army medical professional will decide whether a soldier’s medical concerns are valid if so, that will be documented in the service member’s medical records.
Pregnant soldiers may seek a waiver to delay their vaccine until after pregnancy, after meeting with a health care provider. But Army documents note, âGetting a vaccine could help both mother and the fetus. Pregnant women have a higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19 than nonpregnant women.â
Cds Directive On Caf Covid
As announced on October 6, 2021, the Government of Canada is now requiring federal public service employees to be fully vaccinated. The GC policy does not apply to members of the CAF, however the A/CDS has delivered a Directive to CAF members.
In accordance with GC direction, the CAF will implement the CDS Directive on CAF COVID-19 Vaccination, starting on October 8, 2021, with an attestation period ending on October 29, 2021 and implementation of the mitigation measures starting on . This Directive applies to all officers and non-commissioned members of the Canadian Armed Forces posted to domestic locations, as well as those on expeditionary operations, exercises, temporary duty, or training outside of Canada. This includes the Regular Force, all Class A, B, and C Reserve Forces, Canadian Rangers, and the Officers of the Cadet Instructors Cadre. Additionally, the CAF COVID-19 Vaccination Policy will be a condition for enrolment into the CAF.
If you are not already fully vaccinated, we advise you to book your appointment as soon as possible. The vast majority of Canadians are eligible to receive the vaccine. In the exceptional case that you are unable to be vaccinated due to a prohibited ground under the Canadian Human Rights Act, such as a medical contraindication, you may request accommodation.
More information can be found in the CDS Directive on CAF COVID-19 Vaccination and the COVID-19 Vaccine FAQs web page.
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What Is The Impact Of Vaccines On Military Readiness
Experts say that ensuring compliance with vaccination mandates is crucial for the US military to be able to conducts its missions around the world.
“The military goes to great efforts to ensure that soldiers are deployable, from dental examinations to physical fitness and financial circumstances,” Mr Hansen said.
“A soldier who is not vaccinated and put into close quarters with other soldiers has a potentially really detrimental effect on military readiness. It’s a no brainer.”
As an example, Mr Hansen pointed to the USS Theodore Roosevelt, a US Navy aircraft carrier on which more than 1,000 sailors contracted Covid-19 early in the pandemic. One sailor died of the virus.
“That’s why the vaccination efforts are full steam ahead. That’s the heart of military readiness.”