[Marty94]

There was an article in the Army Times yesterday that discussed this issue. It referenced a House Armed Services Committee hearing and implied that one third of DoD personnel have turned down the vaccine. It didn’t break down the numbers for each service branch nor did it differentiate between active duty military, reserve, national guard, civil service employees, and contractors. All are, however, accounted for in Covid statistics as DoD personnel.

The Army Times article titled, ‘Mandatory COVID-19 vaccination unlikely so long as supply remains low, Army health official says’, written by Kyle Rempfer, goes on to say, “There are a lot of reasons why soldiers may not be taking the vaccine, including a personal choice related to one’s medical history, unease with the vaccine’s approval process or disqualification by a physician, according to Army Inspector General Lt. Gen. Leslie Smith. “Or it could be that they just want to wait to see how others react to the vaccine,” Smith said Monday at the town hall. “It also could be that they simply missed their appointment. Individuals can also formally decline to get the vaccine without offering a reason at all.” In addition the article states, “Experts believe the vaccines are safe for women trying to become pregnant in the short- or long-term, but there’s still limited data about the safety for people who are pregnant or lactating, since those cases weren’t studied in the original vaccine trials.”

Thus, there are many reasons that DoD personnel are not getting immunized, but there are several facts that the article and perhaps other media outlets didn’t mention and took out of context from this hearing. First, when asked about the specific percentage of active duty military getting the vaccine, MGen Taliaferro stated in the hearing, “Acceptance rates are in the two thirds territory.” He went on to say that the “military had to prove they could operate in a pre-vaccine environment and have demonstrated they are fully capable of operating in a Covid environment.” When asked if troops were deployable, he confirmed they are deployable even if not vaccinated. “Readiness ratings have stayed at historic norms.” When asked specifically if troops were refusing the vaccine, he was very careful to state only an approximate acceptance rate because at present the vaccine is voluntary. If it were mandatory or a precondition of deployment, then you would have an actual refusal rate. In addition, he stated DoD is following the tiered approach. They do not have enough product to provide to everyone in DoD at this time.

My takeaway is that while committee members wanted to criticize the military for not making the vaccine mandatory, the military officers present did a great job by not engaging in this exchange and instead explained that military readiness has NOT been degraded, that they have adapted and overcome without the vaccine. If you have time, listen to the hearing. It’s available online. It gives you a tremendous appreciation for all the amazing work that DoD has done concerning Covid, from research to setting up mobile vaccine sites. Further, the military is following CDC guidelines for distribution. Not all active duty military are front line, operational or even mission essential forces. Many are young, healthy and very low risk. Many are attending schools or in training pipelines. Rep. Mark Green of Tennessee, physician and former US Army Major reminded the committee that there were laws in place that specifically prevented using experimental drugs on troops and the Covid vaccine is still experimental. I, for one, have tremendous respect for their approach. So take some time and listen to the hearing. Our military forces are simply the best in the world.

Full Committee Hearing: “Update on the Department of Defense’s Evolving Roles and Mission in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic” - Hearings - House Armed Services Committee - Democrats

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by RICH1

Many had underlying conditions! Some didn't know they had. I guess the older we get the more susceptible we are to medical issues..... interesting that the WHO recently found over 13 Strains of this Virus in Dec of 2019...How long did Foreign Intelligence know about this! The crime is in the Cover-up.

I think you have incorrect information. Not even the WHO (World Health Organization) was aware of Covid-19 in December of 2019. That is when deaths from an unusual form of pneumonia were first being noticed in in China.

COVID-19 pandemic - Wikipedia

[Tmarkwald]

Originally Posted by Jean G

Since sterility in young people is a known possible side effect from the vaccines, I am praying my son refuses the vaccines also.

Please provide references showing the proof

[coffeebean]

Originally Posted by Tmarkwald

Please provide references showing the proof

This article claims the vaccines DO NOT cause infertility.........

The Covid-19 Vaccine Does Not Cause Infertility. Here’s Why People Think It Does.

[joelfmi]

I am hearing a lot of bad reactions to the virus vaccinations injection some were life threating. which I hope are not true.

[Bucco]

Originally Posted by joelfmi

I am hearing a lot of bad reactions to the virus vaccinations injection some were life threating. which I hope are not true.

I am sure you simply forgot to include some reference as to your source for this information.

Nobody would be so irresponsible and immature as to post something like this without good solid credibility.

[Tmarkwald]

Originally Posted by joelfmi

I am hearing a lot of bad reactions to the virus vaccinations injection some were life threating. which I hope are not true.

there have been very few reaction in the 125 million that have had the vaccine, none life threatening or fatal. It is turning out to be the safest vaccine produced..

[Two Bills]

Originally Posted by joelfmi

I am hearing a lot of bad reactions to the virus vaccinations injection some were life threating. which I hope are not true.

Wife and I had our second Pfizer shots on 5th of January.
Allthough we both feel fine, we are a little concerned about the Brussel Sprouts now growing from our ears.
Tests have shown we should have a lovely crop of onions about September!

[Tmarkwald]

Originally Posted by 44Apple

I'm hoping the opposite is not true!

No, that seems to be the norm. The more reaction, the more antibodies.

[Tmarkwald]

There's more good news on the Covid-19 front as new cases in the U.S. are down 73% since the peak on January 11 and cases in Canada are down 67% since the peak on January 9.

The Canadian cruise ban was retaliation for the Biden administration shutting down the Keystone XL pipeline project on the president's first day in office, prompting Alberta's premier, Jason Kenney, to call on prime minister Justin Trudeau to enact "proportional economic consequences" for the decision. A columnist for the Toronto-based National Post even suggested Canada "kneecap the Alaska cruise industry" by forbidding them from making stops in Canada, which would "decimate whole swaths of the American cruise industry."

The new, one-shot vaccine from Johnson & Johnson was approved by the FDA this past weekend and will be put to use immediately alongside the vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna. Merck will help produce the J&J vaccine and the expectation now is that every American adult who wants a vaccine will be able to get it by the end of May.

My Mid June the US could possibly be 100% Mask-Free.

[HRDave]

Originally Posted by Toymeister

I was in Afghanistan when COVID19 hit. I can tell you for certain that you will choose to get the shot to avoid the hassle of not having it.

You fly in to Kuwait and you are placed in two weeks of isolation at a minimum depending on flights out. That is 14 days behind chain link with no internet with little to nothing to do. Depending on time of the year it's 120. Sure you have AC in your barracks with 119 of your friends but the novelty is over in four minutes. The AC is not something that your would call comfort cool, that is for certain.

Vaccine = 1 - 3 days in that desert paradise. Believe me you will do damn near anything to avoid any extended stays at Ali Al Saleem or Camp Arifjan, Kuwait.

I don't trust the MSM to understand that the Base Commander is god in theater not some O-5 in the pentagon. S/he sets the rules. S/he says vaccine required, you get the vaccine, no discussion, no democracy.

And so it should be. I’m sure the PLA or Russian Military do not give troops a choice. The US Military needs discipline, not political correctness! 😎

[Number 10 GI]

Originally Posted by jimjamuser

I would be up for stopping the excessive LIES on various internet sites and a TV channel.

If you eliminated all the lies on the internet and television you would be staring at a blank screen. There is no such thing as unbiased news.

[Bucco]

Originally Posted by Number 10 GI

If you eliminated all the lies on the internet and television you would be staring at a blank screen. There is no such thing as unbiased news.

THAT IS NOT TRUE IN MY OPINION.

You have BIASED NEWS READERS AND WATCHERS who will not believe what they do not want to believe.

This is not new to us. Been like this for many many years. It is just that now we have become so divided and open to lies that as we watch or read anything, our internal bias tells us that is uncomfortable.

That is the reason for the various websites, etc who peddle is strictly lies and conspiracy theories. This kind of stuff used to be reserved for National Enquirer type agencies, but is now common and accepted by those who wish to do so.

There are many unbiased reporting of the NEWS and since human beings put this together they will err at times but not with facts.

Nobody should accept anything as gospel until you investigate the journalistic standards and practices of anyone you want to trust.

We never had to do that before but with the influx of folks who are "comfortable" liars, and successfully have avoided "consequences" for lying, actually get rewarded for it, we are stuck. Folks always speak of the "old days"....back when......but liars did not have their own networks, and those who wished to indulge in such things were restricted to the grocery store check out lines.

With the advent of the internet, the responsibility of the reader is vital.

I can find you truths with great ease, not MY truth, but THE TRUTH, based strictly on facts and nothing else. It is much more difficult to do that, and finding lies to fit what we want is so much easier.

[Number 10 GI]

Originally Posted by Cobullymom

Worked through AIDS, HIV and many other diseases that was I not vaccinated for and they had a much higher risk of death and I took the risk, to take care of others....no one cared then! Again, how dare anybody tell me what I should do with my body....or my profession....and a fall restraint harness is proven, and has nothing absolutely nothing to do with taking a vaccine....what a ridiculous comparison...

As far as I know there is no vaccine to protect you from AIDS or HIV. Flu shots have been proven to protect people from the different influenza viruses just like the safety equipment required in certain professions has been effective in reducing on the job injuries or death. You have made the ridiculous comparison.
When I did my first tour of duty in South Korea I was required to have a Yellow Fever, Cholera, Tetanus, and Plague booster shots before deployment. Just a couple months in country there was a Cholera outbreak among the Koreans in my area that killed a lot of people. On my compound there were many Korean civilian workers in the dining facilities, motor maintenance facilities, grounds keeping and building repair. Were we not vaccinated for these diseases Cholera could have been introduced by these workers and caused deaths in the military units stationed there. I was quite happy to have had the vaccine for it. If you were working in a hospital in this area in Korea would you not think it was necessary for you to be vaccinated for Cholera to prevent possible infection onto one of your patients?

[Byte1]

The military never gave you a choice before. Guess we have a new age, "progressive" military now. Oh well, they are allowing cross dressers now. And I thought Kinger on Mash was just comedy. Now we have real life comedy in the armed forces. Maybe they will do away with firearms and arm our military with paint ball weapons.