40 percent of Marines have declined the coronavirus vaccine

[riversedge]

Source: the hill



By Lexi Lonas - 04/10/21 04:32 PM EDT


.......................There has been a 38.9 percent decline rate, but the Marines are providing information to individuals to encourage them to get the vaccine.

“The Navy and Marine Corps are providing substantial educational information broadly, and working with commands to ensure Marines, Sailors, and beneficiaries have accurate information regarding the safety and efficacy of the vaccines to encourage individuals to get immunized,” Capt. Andrew Wood, a Marines spokesman, told The Hill in a statement.

The data showed that 75,500 Marines have received the vaccine and 48,000 have declined it. Overall, the acceptance rate is 61.1 percent.

The numbers for the data include reserves, active-duty and Individual Mobilization Augmentee Marines, according to CNN.
...................


..................Since the vaccines have only emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration, the military can not require that service members get vaccinated. ...............................
...........

Read more: https://thehill.com/policy/national-security/547534-40-percent-of-marines-have-declined-the-coronavirus-vaccine

---

this means 40% of Marines are selfish and stupid.

Link to tweet

?s=20

[Wild blueberry]

1. That is worrying

Also could mean 40% are potential Domestic Violent Extremists, and White Supremacists. Good thing to check out!

[onecaliberal]

3. Yes, they would likely turn their weapons on us.

This is NOT good.

[DENVERPOPS]

23. My first thought also

Is this the %age of soldiers, (and police?) who are radicalized right wingers and white supremacists?

If it is indicative of their numbers, it should be a cause for alarm.

I would not be shocked in the slightest given what this nation has witnessed these past few years.

I would suspect the numbers of them in the border patrol would be even more shocking. (and revealing)

[COL Mustard]

35. Easy, Folks.

It's only approved through EUA. Lots of people aren't getting it yet, and the military can't make it mandatory under EUA.

FWIW, I got my first dose this week and I work for the Army as a civilian employee.

[CurtEastPoint]

2. this was posted earlier today and since the vax is not yet fully approved it can't be required.

[onecaliberal]

5. There is a larger point being made.

[Ocelot II]

6. So let's hope it gets full approval soon

so vaccinations can be required in more circumstances to save the world from idiots.

[Rebl2]

16. I would

have thought full approval would happen by now. There are people working in nursing homes refusing the vaccine and that makes me angry. I think anyone working with the elderly or in a medical office or hospital should have to get it.

[COL Mustard]

36. It Only Got EUA A Few Months Ago.

Don't expect the FDA to issue a full approval just yet.

[Archae]

4. Is it any wonder they got the nickname, "jarheads?"

I've known several former Marines, and some were decent guys, but others were vicious.

[COL Mustard]

37. Just Because You Join The Military

Doesn't mean you give up all your rights.

[ForgoTheConsequence]

59. George Washington ordered mandatory inoculation against smallpox (a precurser to vaccines) in 1777.

This is not without precedent. Show me where you have the "right" to perpetuate a deadly pandemic with your stupidity.

If they don't like it, they can feel free to find a job elsewhere.


George Washington and the First Mass Military Inoculation

https://www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/GW&smallpoxinoculation.html

[COL Mustard]

61. You're Clearly Spoiling For A Fight

I'm not going to give it to you. US Military personnel have considerably more rights today than they did in 1777.

Have a nice day.

[ForgoTheConsequence]

70. No one is spoiling for a fight.

Save me the pity party.

40% unvaccinated does not reach herd immunity and puts others at risk therefor putting our national security at risk. This isn't rocket science and it isn't about "rights". Don't like it? Walmart is hiring.

[LT Barclay]

74. Well don't be bamboozled just because someone claims to be a vet.

Flu vaccines are mandatory.
The smallpox was mandatory with exceptions.
Anthrax was mandatory, but thank God I was able to put it off until it was no longer enforced, but from what I understand the order is still on the books. A slew of other vaccines are mandatory.
The lack of "full approval" may have this on hold, but I seriously doubt if there is any legal basis or "rights" that would prevent this from being implemented. I'm sure the delay is some upper level (flag officers) who are Trump sympathizers who are delaying this. Just like they did for the defense of the capital building.

[womanofthehills]

75. Because of Doe vs Rumsfeld, it's against the law to force

a vaccine labeled experimental on military personnel. The FDA needs to give final approval on the vaccine and the FDA needs to wait until the studies are complete to give final approval.

[LT Barclay]

84. So that is the caveat. Makes sense.

[RussBLib]

7. have to say I don't think I know any ex-Marines personally

...but I didn't realize they were so fucking selfish and, shall I say it? Stupid.

Apologies to ex-Marines who are not selfish and stupid.

[mahina]

17. If you did, you would know

There aren’t any ex Marines 🤣😊

I think it’s very likely that this is the same group that was so susceptible to being targeted with all the W bullshit. I’d love to see the Ven diagram

https://www.military.com/marine-corps-birthday/marine-birthday-no-exmarines.html

“Absolutely, there is no such thing as an ex-Marine," he said. "Once a Marine, always a Marine. When people say former Marine, most oftentimes, it refers to someone who formerly served in an active or reserve capacity. I never met anyone who said 'former Marine' and meant it in any disrespectful manner. Definitely a taboo phrase would be 'ex-Marine.' "

[CountAllVotes]

43. My father was a sargeant in the Marine Corps.

The few, the proud, the Marines!

Once a Marine always a Marine!

He would have got the shot and asked them if they needed any help during this time of America in crisis!!

He was not a "jar head" so to speak.

The ones that cannot follow the dictum of their leader (Pres. Biden) are not loyal to their country!

[mahina]

47. Right?

Peace to your wonderful Dad.

Mine would have done the same but served in the Army.

Aloha.

[Mary in S. Carolina]

8. Get Rid of Them

We don't need them, they are ignorant, weed them out. By the way, maybe...just maybe... the Marines should stop blaring Fox (Fake Propaganda News) 24/7. Why are the American taxpayers paying to play 24/7 Fox Propaganda news in the Armed Forces??????

[Evolve Dammit]

41. Limbaugh on Armed Forces radio for decades

[msongs]

9. confine them to quarters. at least they will spead disease less that way nt

[ancianita]

11. Since when is the military a democracy. Where are military brass issuing the vaccine order.

40% is ridiculous.

Article 92 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice defines willfully disobeying a lawful order of superior commissioned officer. Dishonorable discharge, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and confinement for 6 months to years.

[ancianita]

18. In the end, it's not about our opinion. It's military brass's responsibility to issue orders.

They're supposed to have superior educations enough to do the right thing, the science thing.

Should be a good indicator of fighting men and women who do NOT have the countries best interest in mind.

Exactly. They should be listed as such even after the stand down 60 days is over.

SECDEF Austin should bear down on the brass through Joint Chiefs. An all-volunteer military doesn't mean all-volunteer when orders are issued. They should get shots or be dishonorably discharged.

CiC Biden should attend to this.

[Evolve Dammit]

42. Agreed.

[former9thward]

50. No.

Congress passed a law, 10 U.S.C. § 1107a, which says military members do not have to take vaccines that are issued under Emergency Use Authorization. All of the Covid vaccines have been issued under the EUA.

[former9thward]

51. You don't know the law.

Congress passed a law, 10 U.S.C. § 1107a, which says military members do not have to take vaccines that are issued under Emergency Use Authorization. All of the Covid vaccines have been issued under the EUA.

[ancianita]

68. Guess not. I left off being an officer's wife after Vietnam.

I've read that the FDA hasn't given the vaccines formal approval, and also since my post I've read about the military's making it optional because of that, so thanks for the reminder.

Still, the military personnel who don't want it are stupid, imo. I also hope their CiC has words with them about taking it.

[Lasher]

71. There's more to it than that.

Can troops be ordered to take the COVID vaccine? A guest post analyzes the law.

In our guest post today, Army Judge Advocate Major Whitney L. Wiles unpacks the legal architecture for us. In doing so, she discusses 10 U.S.C. § 1107a which apparently is the “federal law” DoD references. In situations involving vaccinations with only “emergency use” authorization, that statute requires “informed consent” – which military members can withhold.

But those requirements can be waived. The law does, however, oblige President Biden to first find that waiving the “informed consent” process (that currently permits military members to refuse the vaccine) is in the “interests of national security.” To date he has not made that determination, and – to my knowledge – Secretary Austin has not asked him to do so.

Addtionally, MAJ Wiles analyzes the military’s vaccination cases from the early 2000s where orders to take the anthrax inoculation were upheld. They are especially interesting because the 10 U.S.C. § 1107a waiver process was not employed.

https://sites.duke.edu/lawfire/2021/02/18/can-troops-be-ordered-to-take-the-covid-vaccine-a-guest-post-analyzes-the-law/

The informed consent process can be waived by the President, and even that might not be required if we consider the early 2000s anthrax inoculations a precedent.

[turbinetree]

12. That is a national security issue and can affect combat readiness

they had to get shots when they deploy, that is a fact

[OnDoutside]

13. How is that even a thing ?

[mysteryowl]

32. exactly!

When I was in the military, there was no "optional" vaccination.
You were in a line and you received what was given. Period.

[OnDoutside]

52. Yes, that's the sort of image I would have.

[keithbvadu2]

14. Wonder what the rate is as you go higher in the chain of command?

Wonder what the rate is as you go higher in the chain of command?

An officer who refuses it would be setting a poor example.

[DesertRat]

19. I blame RW Media, Faux news in particular

[pwb]

20. I don't remember having a choice about shots when I was in the Army.

I think I got four or more shots blown into my arm on the same day before heading over seas.
President Biden could order them to get it for the good of all.

[ashredux]

25. Me either....lined us up and BAM...

[skydive forever]

28. Yep, what he said.

[twogunsid]

29. I deployed 3x in 6 years of active duty...

...in the Navy and i got the full vaccinations each time. No one asked me if I would like to decline. I wouldn't have declined. That would be fucking stupid.

[VarryOn]

34. That was my first thought, too...

I guess hurting feelings comes into play nowadays...

[COL Mustard]

38. Just Curious...When Were You In The Army?

I was in during Desert Shield/Storm...when the anthrax vax was just coming out. It was not mandatory. This is nothing new. Military members still have many Constitutional rights.

[pwb]

55. 69-70

Nam.

[COL Mustard]

62. Thank You For Having Served

Those were not good times for the Army. I was a snot-nosed dependent back then and saw lots of people going and coming back from SEA.

[womanofthehills]

76. At the time, many military personnel were becoming ill after the anthrax vaccine

It is believed that the anthrax vaccine concontributed to Gulf War Syndrome- So 6 military people went to district court and a judge ruled they were not given informed consent so the military could not force experimental vaccines. Biden will never order the military to go against the court ruling as he would lose all the independent votes. Besides, there is little social distancing in the military so many should have natural immunity by now.

[SunSeeker]

21. Any member of the armed services who refuses a covid vaccine should be discharged.

[Calista241]

56. Perhaps If we hadn't medically experimented on soldiers in the past

They’d be more willing to trust the best intentions of our government.

[SunSeeker]

69. The folks refusing vaccines are mostly white, and Republican.

Last edited Sun Apr 11, 2021, 06:50 PM - Edit history (1)

It was African Americans the government secretly experimented on in the Tuskegee trials to see what would happen if medicine was withheld for syphilis.

[Calista241]

72. The minutia of who was experimented on doesn't matter.

All everyone knows is that experiments were run on unsuspecting soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines. In some cases these experiments went on for decades. In my experience, Marines spend their entire careers jumping when someone says jump. Giving them a choice gives them a chance to stick it to their Commands and Officers without getting in trouble for it.

In addition, Coronavirus has affected older populations in nearly 99%+ of cases. Active duty Marines are on the much younger than groups largely affected by the coronavirus. These Marines may just be thinking "Why risk it?" and "Fuck Command."

[SunSeeker]

78. It matters.

Those white soldiers aren't refusing vaccines because of Tuskegee. I doubt any of those white soldiers even know about Tuskegee, or care about Tuskegee. They're refusing because of conspiracy theories and anti-vaxx bullshit they hear on Fox and right wing media.

And it absolutely does matter. Soldiers or sailers who are not vaccinated can cripple military readiness. Remember the disaster of the covid outbreak on the Navy ship USS Theodore Roosevelt, and how it sidelined that ship in March of 2020? Well it's still happening. The U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet has two potential outbreaks of covid right now. https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/u-s-navy-s-5th-fleet-has-two-potential-outbreaks-of-covid-19

We should not be justifying or providing an excuse for their refusal. There is no.excuse. If a soldier threatens military readiness, he should be discharged.

[Calista241]

79. You're ascribing political beliefs and saying there's anti-vax leanings here.

And that’s not supported by the article. The article goes into detail about the many reasons why a Marine may not have gotten a vaccine from the Corps.

[SunSeeker]

80. The article does not say what demographic is refusing and why. But other articles do.

The article just offers conjecture, not actual reasons given, for why soldiers are refusing vaccination. "May" is not "why."

But there are numerous articles that do provide the demographics of vaccine refusers. And those do support what I say. https://www.texastribune.org/2021/03/23/covid-vaccine-hesitancy-white-republicans/

[Botany]

22. We are at war with the C-19 virus. Listen up Marines get with the program or get out. End of story

Good God in Butter the disinformation campaigns and the designed work to "dumb down of America"
needs to be fought back.

[ashredux]

24. Putin is laughing...his disinformation campaign has been very successful

[Botany]

30. Last summer Russian disinformation got a "Bubby Army" in Kentucky ready to fight a BLM/ANTIFA

that was coming down the OH River from Cincinnati to attack a statue to confederate soldiers and
another "Bubby Army" in central PA was ready to fight BLM members who were hiding in the woods
around some small town and wanted to attack the county court house.

The real question is what are the links between Fox News/the GOP and Russia? And are Republican
Governors willing to kill people to keep the pandemic going in some sort of sick political gambit?

[Dan]

26. Military has changed from what they used to do...

Fifty years ago, choice was not an option.

[Cryptoad]

40. may be what's wrong with our military today,,,

[IronLionZion]

27. Probably conservatives who believed RW lies

Not a good sign considering how many outbreaks happened at military facilities and ships

[JohnSJ]

31. From my memory there was no choice whether to get a vaccine or not

[Lars39]

33. When the vaccines becomes FDA approved they won't have a choice.

I'm hoping it happens in a few months.

[elleng]

39. Sticking point, as often the case:

'Since the vaccines have only emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration, the military can not require that service members get vaccinated.'

[LiberalFighter]

44. I guess all Marines are not Always Faithful to the country and their fellow Marines.

[smb]

45. 40 Percent Of Marines Are Afraid Of A Little Needle Owie?

My approach, which I recommend to all, is to dismiss the "arguments" of anti-vaxxers out of hand and sneer that they're just making excuses because they're wimps afraid of a little needle stick. If they continue "arguing", repeat (and add bwak-bwak-bwak "chicken" sounds).

[hamsterjill]

82. Unbelievable.

First of all, I doubt that needle phobia accounts for that percentage of marines not getting the vaccine.

Second of all, there are a lot of us with legitimate phobias who just aren’t as “tough” as others, perhaps because of past trauma, etc. We are trying to deal, and calling us cowards reeks of being ill-informed.

I really disagree with a “bully” approach.

I’m sure you’ve served, right? If so, thank you. If not, perhaps you should consider doing it.

[INdemo]

48. How can this be . When I was in the Navy every single time we departed for a Cruise or

Especially in Boot camp we did not have a choice..We got the vaccine..Remember the shot guns and when you step forward you better stand still for a few seconds.

[DallasNE]

49. Leadership Is Late To The Game

The misinformation they are trying to reverse came mostly from Fox News, which has played almost non-stop. We can be sure that if those same TV's had been tuned to MSNBC instead of Fox News the vaccination rate would have been substantially higher.

[marie999]

53. Yes, let's beat up on members of our military

who refuse to take a vaccine that does not have FDA approval. When and if the vaccines do get FDA approval then the military will mandate its use. I mean, of course, our military should trust our government. It said that Agent Orange was safe. For those of you who have served, what vaccines did the military give you that were not FDA approved? So next time you want to thank a member of the military for their service to this country, ask to see their shot record first because you wouldn't want to thank someone for their service if they are wimps or crybabies.

[madville]

73. And don't forget all the veterans currently receiving

VA disability compensation for side effects of the non-FDA approved anthrax vaccines the military mandated for some members in the 90s and 2000s.

[whistler162]

54. JAG is going to be busy with those

less than honorable discharges!

[Shrek]

57. Discharged for what?

No one is violating any regulations.

[madville]

58. I work as a civilian for another military branch

It’s not mandatory in any of them as far as I know. Everything I have seen suggests it won’t be mandatory until it is fully FDA approved. What they can and have done is create rewards for getting vaccinated, like off base liberty at training centers, not having to wear a mask indoors, etc.

I think they are also not wanting to open the can of worms that mandating an EUA vaccine could create years down the road as far as service connected conditions and disability compensation goes. The VA is currently having to deal with many disability compensation claims for symptoms maybe caused by the various non-FDA approved anthrax vaccines it mandated in the 90s and 2000s.

[janterry]

60. the risk from these vaccines is not zero

we have good indications short term that they are highly protective and safe. But you can't have long term data without having these vaccines out in the world and tracked for 1-2 years. Subjects need to be followed.

FWIW, I signed up and am getting vaccinated next week.

[womanofthehills]

77. If people check out the government VEARS reports

(Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System) they can read all the reports submitted to the government of vaccine injury and death from these vaccines. So, experimental means risk - it may be small compared to the numbers of vaccinated.

[janterry]

81. No, this is not what I mean

Last edited Mon Apr 12, 2021, 12:26 PM - Edit history (1)

Yes, we know the adverse event reporting system reports on what we now know.

But the risk remains non-zero for - perhaps - very significant risk of some unforeseen negative effects long-term. Or perhaps none at all. You cannot quantify an unknown. You can only look at the data we have, what we now know, and make your best determination.

The only way to know LONG TERM safety is to track these vaccines and subjects long term (that's at least for a year - even better if two or more).

I have opted for the vaccine, even given the non-zero risk. But I understand what I am doing and why.

[sarisataka]

65. For what reason?

[Crowman2009]

63. There needs to be state/county yearly quotas to avoid a larger than...

... normal percentage of right wing nut jobs in the recruiting pool.

[elias7]

64. These anti-vaxxers don't see that they're the ones prolonging the epidemic

by delaying hers immunity such that virus thrives to create a next round of mutations that are immune to the vaccine. Then we start over again. Dumb f*cks.

[marie999]

66. Who says they are anti-vaxxers? Maybe they don't trust the government with health issues.

[Devil Child]

67. Their body their choice n/t

[agalisgv]

83. They are taught to think they are invincible

That's why so many die in motorcycle accidents too. Not that it's a good reason to avoid covid vaccines.