"Hegseth: Flu Vaccine Optional"

[The Bread Guy]

This from the Pentagon info-machine ...

https://twitter.com/x/status/2046579973494800754

... and this from MSM so far

Flu vaccine no longer mandated for US troops, Hegseth says

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said in a social media post on Tuesday that the Pentagon will no longer be requiring members of the military to get the flu vaccine.

www.livenowfox.com

Flu vaccine no longer mandatory for soldiers, says US military chief

Pete Hegseth says the decision is based on principle of 'medical autonomy' and criticises the mandate as 'overreaching'.

www.aljazeera.com

US military service members will no longer be required to get annual flu shot

Defense secretary Pete Hegseth makes announcement and calls military’s flu vaccine mandate ‘broad’ and ‘not rational’

www.theguardian.com

Flu vaccine no longer mandated for US troops, Hegseth says

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says the U.S. military will no longer mandate the flu vaccine for American troops. He cited “medical autonomy” and religious freedom.

apnews.com

Hegseth knows REAL warfighters don't get the flu anyway | Opinion

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has officially done away with the U.S. military's WOKE flu vaccine mandate, and I applaud that decision.

www.usatoday.com

 

[FSTO]

He really wants to go back to the Civil War doesn't he.

Disease was far more lethal than combat during the American Civil War, causing roughly two-thirds of all soldier deaths. While approximately 210,000–230,000 soldiers died from diseases like measles, typhoid, and dysentery, roughly 110,000-150,000 died from battlefield injuries (KIA/DOW). Overall, about 620,000 to 660,000+ men died.

Civil War Casualties

Roughly 2% of the population, an estimated 620,000 men, lost their lives in the line of duty during the Civil War. Taken as a percentage of today's population, the toll would have risen as high as 6 million souls.

www.battlefields.org

 

[QV]

Seems reasonable.

 

[dangerboy]

I wonder what the various branch Surgeon Generals think about this decision.

 

[Brad Sallows]

Compared to our policy of mandatory flu vaccinations for the CAF, it does seem like an oversight.

 

[dangerboy]

Flu vaccinations are not mandatory for the CAF, they are encouraged but it is the member's choice.

 

[brihard]

Is the flu vaccine required for DAG green for CAF?

 

[SeaKingTacco]

Is the flu vaccine required for DAG green for CAF?

Nope.

 

[mariomike]

Pete cited "religious freedom".

That's nice.

My employer mandated influenza vaccination.

Now, members have "Freedom of Choice."

They can get vaccinated against Influenza , or "wear full PPE on all respiratory illness calls."

Not sure what U.S. military policy regarding PPE is when responding to emergency medical respiratory illness calls.

 

[Navy_Pete]

Maybe next this guy will cut fruit and other sources of vitamin C from the menu, so sailors can experience the joy of scurvy like it's the age of sail again. That will distract them from multiple deployment extensions with no return home date.

Not sure when 'conservative' became 'regressive' but here we are.

 

[QV]

If you ever want some insight into the extreme critical biases going on over anything USA right now, look no further than this thread for a great example.

The US DoW implemented a policy that mirrors a CAF policy re: flu shots not mandatory. First that bit of non-news somehow warranted a thread about it... and look at some of the extreme responses about it.

 

[RangerRay]

Shouldn’t he be more worried about cleaning up that mess in the Persian Gulf his boss started, instead of leaning into culture war BS?

Has the flu vaccine always been optional but he felt the need to make this statement to try to keep his job?

 

[PuckChaser]

Is the flu vaccine required for DAG green for CAF?

Only if required by the base/country you're going to deploy into. I remember NATO required flu vaccines for Kabul around the early 2010s as a base policy for any deploying soldier.

I'll also take the time to remind folks that if you want nice things, you can debate the policy not the policy maker or I'll bin the thread and publicly shame the individuals who caused it. - Milnet.ca Staff

 

[Jarnhamar]

Flu vaccines change every year based of recommendations from our friends at the WHO.

I'm happy to pass on that yearly gamble.

 

[brihard]

Flu vaccines change every year based of recommendations from our friends at the WHO.

I'm happy to pass on that yearly gamble.

Having had real flu, it sucks ass. I'm happy to get the shot each year and reduce the chances to myself and family, personally. It doens't work great every year but it's usually pretty good, and the odd of any serious side effects are much lower than the risks from a serious case of flu. That's my personal take.

If you ever want some insight into the extreme critical biases going on over anything USA right now, look no further than this thread for a great example.

The US DoW implemented a policy that mirrors a CAF policy re: flu shots not mandatory. First that bit of non-news somehow warranted a thread about it... and look at some of the extreme responses about it.

The U.S. had a policy that brought them to a higher level of medical force protection. They have chosen to change that policy and consequently reduce their degree of medical force protection for reasons that are likely quite ideological. It's noteworthy. 'Canada was less prepared than the U.S.' doesn't mean anything for the tangible merits or lack thereof of their changed approach.

 

[Baz]

Well, there is a well organized push back on MMR, so I guess it should be optional for the military well, ce n'est pas?

 

[Jarnhamar]

Having had real flu, it sucks ass. I'm happy to get the shot each year

Oh man, your bodies gotta be swimming with all kinds of nanobots and other Spyware.

 

[brihard]

Oh man, your bodies gotta be swimming with all kinds of nanobots and other Spyware.

I’m basically the Borg with great 5G reception.

 

[Brad Sallows]

So there was a good policy. It was better than some others' policies. Then it was changed to a less good - but still pretty good - policy essentially the same as others' policies. Cue the targeted criticism, then cue the ridiculous exaggerations which follow. Ad infinitum.

 

[Navy_Pete]

So there was a good policy. It was better than some others' policies. Then it was changed to a less good - but still pretty good - policy essentially the same as others' policies. Cue the targeted criticism, then cue the ridiculous exaggerations which follow. Ad infinitum.

Yes, because it's an ideological change.

The what isn't a big deal, it's the 'why'. Also, the posturing as Department of War will always be hilarious when that's not the actual name until authorized by Congress.