Alabama military base is first in the U.S. to require vaccination proof amid rising covid-19 rates

[reACTIONary]

Source: Washington Post

An Alabama military base is taking increased actions to combat the ongoing prevalence of coronavirus infections, authorizing leaders to ask for proof of vaccination of service members not wearing a mask while on duty. It is the first military base in the continental United States to allow leaders to check the vaccination status of those in uniform.

The order issued Tuesday by Maj. Gen. David Francis, commanding general of Fort Rucker, states that unmasked uniformed personnel “must be prepared to show proof of vaccination” when on the base.

“Due to the rising rates in the counties around us and some on Fort Rucker, we’re now implementing G.O. number 12,” Francis said in a video posted July 12 on Fort Rucker’s official Facebook page, referring to the general order issued to Fort Rucker personnel. “The big difference is going to be that if you are not wearing a mask, the leadership will be able to ask you, ask soldiers, to prove that they’ve been vaccinated by showing their vaccination card.”

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2021/07/14/alabama-fort-rucker-vaccination/

[Roy Rolling]

1. A Good Step...

But how about ordering soldiers to be vaccinated? Problem solved.

Soldiers can’t wear masks into active combat. This isn’t a drill, a well-prepared military can’t be wearing masks to protect others from a microscopic virus.

[keithbvadu2]

2. GOP Rep Thomas Massie Schooled After Claiming Military 'Will Quit If the COVID Vaccine Is Mandated'

https://democraticunderground.com/100215594260

https://www.msn.com/en-us/tv/news/gop-rep-thomas-massie-schooled-after-claiming-military-will-quit-if-the-covid-vaccine-is-mandated/ar-AALNaaS

GOP Rep Thomas Massie Schooled After Claiming Military 'Will Quit If the COVID Vaccine Is Mandated'
--------------------------------
Trump's shaman was kicked out of the Navy for refusing an anthrax vaccine.

He did not 'quit'.

https://www.military.com/daily-news/2021/01/12/navy-career-of-qanon-shaman-ended-after-he-refused-anthrax-vaccine.html

[thucythucy]

3. Another reason why the placement of so many military bases in red states

was never a great idea.

So much red state economy is dependent on the military, despite all the griping about the "evil" federal government and the "welfare state."

In any case, it's past time for the military to require all service members, and all civilians employed by the military, to be vaccinated.

[GregariousGroundhog]

7. I think you will see mandatory vaccination once the FDA approves full authorization

Right now, all the offered vaccines are approved under an emergency use authorization. At some point the FDA is going to say they have enough data to give it a full throated endorsement and at that point I suspect the military will require vaccination among the 30% of its members who have declined it. I also suspect almost every hospital will require it, just as they do influenza vaccinations.

[Strelnikov_]

8. Agree.

The drumbeats are there, as I am reading about more and more institutions (employers) requiring vac by the end of September. Probably with the assumption that Pfizer/Moderna will have FDA approval by the end of August.

Look for a lot of employer sponsored vac clinics once this approval is in place.

[thucythucy]

13. I understand the distinction, but

Don't agree with the delay, which only gives the varients more time to take hold and spread.

It's not as if the military is adverse to asking his members to sacrifice, sometimes order them even to risk death. Not to be unfeeling or crass, but isn't this what our volunteer soldiers signed up to do--to place themselves possibly at risk in defense of the nation?

I would be that the risks of any of these vaccines--"experiental" or not--is on a par with or less than serving with the military anywhere overseas.

I agree it makes a difference for civilians, though not for health care workers.

Anyway--my two cents.

[lark]

4. Of course, DeathSentence made this illegal in FL, which is spiking like hell with cases.

Of course, 99.2% of them are the unvaccinated, but that leaves .8 who got it after being fully vaccinated. This is scary stuff folks. Wear masks when indoors in public & can't socially distance, social distance everywhere possible, no mass events.

My husbands' work is exploding with Covid, over 21 people sent home as of yesterday. Hubby & I are fully vaccinated, but 1% of people who are coming down with this are also in this status. I didn't do well when we had Covid in Dec., I didn't have to go to the hospital but it was really iffy for several days of quite low oxygen and very elevated heart rate.

Son finally has his ID (until he loses it again) and a full day off so I'm taking him to be vaccinated in about an hour. That's some relief at least. Wish a lot more were doing the same.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

9. It's illegal in Alabama too, but the military is Federal.

https://www.huschblackwell.com/newsandinsights/50-state-update-on-pending-legislation-pertaining-to-employer-mandated-vaccinations#linktojump1

Alabama

(Signed into Law):

Senate Bill 267 prohibits local and state government entities from issuing vaccine passports or requiring an individual to receive an immunization as a condition for receiving government benefits or services. The Bill also does not allow private businesses to refuse goods or services or deny persons admission because of their immunization status or lack of documentation of immunization. The Bill permits educational institutions to continue to require students to receive vaccinations that were required by the institution as of January 1, 2021, provided there is a medical and religious belief exemption. The Bill was signed into law on May 17, 2021 and assigned Act No. 2021-493.

[lark]

10. Heinous, murderous law.

These southern rednecks are really really trying to kill us. Lord how I hate them!

[Buckeye_Democrat]

11. It's Republicans far and wide.

The South has a greater density of them, though.

Republicans push to ban "discrimination" against unvaccinated people
https://www.axios.com/republicans-coronavirus-vaccines-discrimination-law-states-533503fb-fa83-43d0-bd51-2d614483d241.html

[DownriverDem]

5. My mask is on

when I go into a store. How will we know who is vaccinated? I suspect that anti vaxxers are anti maskers.

[zuul]

6. I suspect that at least half the folks I see

running around without masks in my area are unvaccinated.

I’m still wearing a mask and only going out when I absolutely have to.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

12. That seems very likely.

Were we supposed to expect that the same people who fussed about masks would then scramble to get vaccinated, because of some CDC announcement?

They opposed the earlier guidelines in the first place.