VACCINES AND THE MILITARY

According to the Fred W. Smith National Library for Study of George Washington, Washington and his Continental Army “faced a threat that proved deadlier than the British” in the first years of the Revolutionary War — smallpox.

Washington issued the order to have all troops inoculated by the means that was then available, variolation, on Feb. 5, 1777, in a letter to John Hancock, who was president of the Second Continental Congress. In another letter, Washington ordered all recruits arriving in Philadelphia also be inoculated.

From the onset of our nation to present day, the vaccination of US troops for the prevention of infectious diseases among military personnel is common practice.

The Department of Defense (DoD) administers 17 different vaccines, as outlined in the Joint Instruction on Immunizations and Chemoprophylaxis (Secretaries of the Air Force, Army, Navy, and Transportation, 1995). The vaccines are administered to military personnel on the basis of military occupation, the location of the deployment, and mission requirements. The COVID-19 vaccine was added to this list in August.

The Pentagon is mandating that US military service members get fully vaccinated against Covid-19 immediately, after the Food and Drug Administration fully approved the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine.

While Soldiers who refuse the vaccine will first be counseled by their chain of command and medical providers, continued failure to comply could result in administrative or non-judicial consequences to include relief of duties or discharge. Soldiers have the ability to request an exemption from receiving the vaccine, if they have a legitimate medical, religious or administrative reason.

Army active duty units are expected to be fully vaccinated by Dec. 15, 2021 and Reserve and National Guard units are expected to be fully vaccinated by June 30, 2022.

Air Force active duty personnel are expected to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by Nov. 2 and Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve personnel are expected to be fully vaccinated by Dec. 2.

All active-duty Marines and Navy personnel are expected to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by Nov. 28, and reservists are expected to be fully vaccinated by Dec. 28.

All Coast Guard active duty and Ready Reserve members are also expected to be fully vaccinated.

Source:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK220954/

https://www.army.mil/article/250277/army_announces_implementation_of_mandatory_vaccines_for_soldiers

https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2765008/daf-announces-mandatory-covid-vaccine-implementation-guidelines-for-airmen-guar/