Pentagon to mandate COVID-19 vaccine for military

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: The Hill

The U.S. military will move to mandate the COVID-19 vaccine for all service members now that the Pfizer vaccine has full approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Pentagon’s top spokesperson announced Monday.

The Defense Department is preparing “guidance to the force” to make the vaccine mandatory, with a timeline to be provided in the coming days, Pentagon press secretary John Kirby told reporters.

The FDA earlier on Monday granted the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine full approval, a move that’s expected to boost vaccinations and spark more mandates nationwide.

Read more: https://thehill.com/policy/defense/568996-pentagon-to-mandate-covid-19-vaccine-for-military

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Short article. The NYT had a breaking banner on this too but no article referenced (at least yet).

I think this was obviously expected but the process is now going ahead with the FDA's "full approval" announced today.

[Jilly_in_VA]

1. Good

Get shot or get out. I have no idea what their problem is. They get vaccinated for everything else. My son told me he got vaccinated in boot camp for stuff he knew he'd been vaccinated for because, like my mom, I always kept up with my kids' shots. But the military does it "just in case". Then if you go overseas they get you for some more stuff.

[Hortensis]

2. Early this month they set a mid-September vaccination deadline

(to give time for full FDA approval) but said that might be moved up if final approval occurred before or infection rates continue to rise. Both happening now of course.

Austin warned 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.”

[BumRushDaShow]

4. Yup.

I think they were working off a mid-September "drop dead date" for an approval to happen.

We are now 2 weeks away from the Labor Day holiday (often considered "the end of summer celebration" ), so getting some more of the "hesitant" group done now, with a 3 week gap between shots that overlaps with the holiday, at least gets those people a little bit of protection (although I know they would need the 2 weeks after the 2nd dose for "full protection", but better something than nothing).

[Hortensis]

5. Hadn't thought of the holiday, but for sure.

Sigh. Wish we were going somewhere with family and friends, like a normal Labor Day.

[BumRushDaShow]

6. Yeah I know

One of my sisters was thinking of doing a bbq for Labor Day but I haven't heard any updates. I know her hubby likes to pull out the grill at anytime and they have a big deck and yard. But this year all of us have been pretty low key. My other sister had Memorial Day & July 4th bbqs but that was right before and as Delta was hitting full force.

[Hortensis]

7. Next year for real! We're offered a condo on the ocean but

just have no enthusiasm for driving hours without a happy crowd at the other end. We're alone in comfort right here.

[BumRushDaShow]

9. Yeah... one can dream.

Back to the "staycation".

[Deminpenn]

10. When you are in the military, they control you lock, stock and barrel

If the order is vaccines, vaccine you get, like it or not.

[Hortensis]

13. Can't feel sorry for those angry at infringement of the right to spread.

[LiberatedUSA]

3. And so it begins.

Holdouts will be forced to decide between getting vaccinated so they can remain employed or be broke, shunned and sick on a ventilator.

[EYESORE 9001]

8. Maybe repuQs in uniform will quit in protest

or get court-martialed before getting kicked out.

[Tadpole Raisin]

11. "there could be administrative and disciplinary repercussions" for failing to receive it.

I hope that includes dishonorable discharge.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

14. I'm sure it won't include a Dishonorable Discharge.

It's not a big crime, so could possibly result in a General Discharge. It's not murder, or treason, more of an incompatibility with military service.

I'm guessing there will be very few actual refusals. Almost all will get in line and get the shots.

[Skittles]

32. yes

but when I was in the military I counseled guys not to try for a General Discharge, as they are, er, generally seen in a negative light

[Deminpenn]

19. Had an army vet tell me that

if you so much as got sunburned and thus were unable to perform your assigned duty, you could be court-martialed.

[Woodwizard]

26. I got the worst sunburn of my life

during my technical training after basic, went to myrtle beach and burned to a crisp I was so terrified of an article 15 I did not go to sick call, the pain of doing situps with hard dry summer grass poking me at fort Jackson is still vivid 38 years later. I had blisters everywhere, Irish and stupid.

I am sure if I went on sick call I would have been treated and taken care of, but the rumor of damaging government property was strong.

[Skittles]

31. I got sunburned very badly the first July I was in Texas

my back was very bad,.....I was in the military and could not go bra-less, so I wore the uniform sweater . pure misery during a Texas summer.

[Deminpenn]

33. Had no idea, sunburns were more common

than I realized. Glad you both survived the experience.

[jmowreader]

21. I predict a lot of Chapter 5 discharges for refusal

Chapter 5 of Army Regulation 635-200, Enlisted Administrative Separations, is Discharge for the Convenience of the Government. This chapter is really attractive because there's very little paperwork involved, and it can be done at Battalion level. Chapter 13 is Unsatisfactory Performance, Chapter 14 is Separation for Misconduct; either of those could theoretically be invoked but they're both pretty complex to write. (Chapter 4 is what most people get; that's Separation at End of Tour of Service. Chapter 12 is Retirement for Length of Service, and that's another really common one. The rescinded Chapter 15 was Separation due to Homosexuality.)

[Captain Zero]

30. Is there still one called

Unsuitable for Military Service. ??
I know they get no VA BENEFITS for that one.

[jmowreader]

34. No

Here are the Chapters:

Chapter 4: expiration of service obligation, which most people are discharged under
Chapter 5: convenience of the government (1)
Chapter 6: dependency or hardship
Chapter 7: defective enlistments/re-enlistments
Chapter 8: pregnancy (2)
Chapter 9: alcohol/drug abuse rehabilitation failure
Chapter 10: in lieu of trial by court-martial
Chapter 11: entry level performance (3)
Chapter 12: retirement
Chapter 13: unsatisfactory performance
Chapter 14: misconduct
Chapter 15: rescinded, but was homosexuality

(1) This is the easiest one, and it's what they'll use on vax refusal personnel
(2) You have the option of staying on active duty when you're pregnant. If you choose that option, they issue you a maternity uniform and you go back to work
(3) This is basically the same as a civilian probationary period at your job, and can be exercised within 6 months of enlistment

[Mr.Bill]

12. The way the military works is this:

They may not be able to force you to do something,
but they can make you wish you had.

[kairos12]

15. Those who say no. Kick them out. Failure

to follow a lawful order.

[ck4829]

16. Just remembering when the righties said we need "what happened in Myanmar"

The first thing they'd do is make you get your vaccine.

[ananda]

17. I thought they'd already done that.

???

[Deminpenn]

18. It was conditional, no later than mid-Sept, but

Austin said the mandatory vaccine could be earlier if one or more got full FDA approval before then.

Now that Pfizer is approved, the deadline for mandatory vaccinations was moved to today.

[paleotn]

20. A serious readiness issue.

And like many things in the military, unlike civilian life, approval from the ranks is not required.

[Hekate]

22. I don't predict significant resistance. They've already been vaxxed for a whole bunch of stuff...

They already know the drill. If they had terminal objections to Uncle Sam telling them what to do with their bodies (and their precious bodily fluids) they would already be long gone.

It is, however, a big step forward in bringing up the number of vaccinated citizens.

[BumRushDaShow]

23. "and their precious bodily fluids"

Seems it's almost time to re-watch that movie!

[Hekate]

24. Yee-haw!

[bluestarone]

25. The ones that refuse it will

Try to work for law enforcement, OR Devos's brothers security

[riversedge]

27. Good.

[myohmy2]

28. this...

...might help purge the ranks of right-wing fascists...

...I know a few that won't be happy...

...

[Captain Zero]

29. Good. Maybe it will run out all the fascists

and RumpHumpers from the military who don't want to take it. The we will have people to work the fast food joints.

[MissB]

35. I assume this will apply to the coast guard as well

I have a family member whose spouse is active CG. They live in CG housing with their kids. The family member is very antivax- after Pfizer received FDA approval on Monday, they said that it was a political decision so they still were not getting the vaccination.

But their spouse will be forced to. I’m hoping that the order extends to all folks that live/work on the bases/housing.

[BumRushDaShow]

36. They are part of the "uniformed services" so...

I expect what DOD is doing is taking existing vaccine mandate guidance documents and updating them to include this vaccine. At this point, the only one "fully approved" is Pfizer's (which has actually been the predominant one used in the U.S. in any case), so they would probably specify that, but could amend for any others as those firms go through and complete the approval process.