• Thanks for stopping by. Logging in to a registered account will remove all generic ads. Please reach out with any questions or concerns.

U.S. DoW Health Initiatives (Flu vax policy, testosterone, etc.)

Jarnhamar said:
I'm glad the Canadian Forces does not force members to get the flu shot.
Click to expand...

What is CAF policy for Med Techs on respiratory illness calls?

My former employer - now - offers members "Freedom of choice ".

They can get vaccinated against Influenza , or "wear - full - PPE on all respiratory calls."
 
RangerRay said:
Oh wow. That a gong show.
Click to expand...
Have you looked at the side effects of low testosterone? Whole lot of stuff that degrades general effectiveness, let alone combat effectiveness. It's not something men are typically going to go get checked out for either. This is a long time overdue for men's health, especially in a high performing, physical occupation like the military.

The gong show is that in the US military you get a yearly checkup with a doctor and in Canada it takes a year to get your appointment to get your check up done every 5 years.
 
RangerRay said:
Oh wow. That a gong show.
Click to expand...
What makes you say that?

Common health effects include:
Lower muscle mass and strength
Increased body fat
Reduced bone density
Lower energy and fatigue
Mood changes
Reduced libido and erectile difficulties
Reduced fertility
Anemia
Cognitive effects

This kind of screeing could help the CAF's issues with obesity and mental health.
 
PuckChaser said:
Have you looked at the side effects of low testosterone? Whole lot of stuff that degrades general effectiveness, let alone combat effectiveness. It's not something men are typically going to go get checked out for either. This is a long time overdue for men's health, especially in a high performing, physical occupation like the military.

The gong show is that in the US military you get a yearly checkup with a doctor and in Canada it takes a year to get your appointment to get your check up done every 5 years.
Click to expand...

Jarnhamar said:
What makes you say that?

Common health effects include:
Lower muscle mass and strength
Increased body fat
Reduced bone density
Lower energy and fatigue
Mood changes
Reduced libido and erectile difficulties
Reduced fertility
Anemia
Cognitive effects

This kind of screeing could help the CAF's issues with obesity and mental health.
Click to expand...

It appears I went half-cocked at this one. If this is a legit medical policy, then this is good. It’s not as silly as I thought it was.

I’ve never heard of “Low T” being an issue with the US military. With a SecDef who seems more concerned about “lethality” and facial hair on troops than running the largest department of the US government, this read like another culture war operation.

The concern I have is this sounds like screening for men over 30 is mandatory. What happens if someone doesn’t want the treatment if it’s recommended? Are they released? I’ve been reading that the links between treatment and risks, including heart/stroke issues, infertility and even enlargement of breasts is inconclusive. If someone wants to stay in the military, are they going to have to suck back those risks?

If treatment is mandatory, it’s the opposite argument he used when he instituted the anti-flu vaccine policy.
 
RangerRay said:
It appears I went half-cocked at this one. If this is a legit medical policy, then this is good. It’s not as silly as I thought it was.

I’ve never heard of “Low T” being an issue with the US military. With a SecDef who seems more concerned about “lethality” and facial hair on troops than running the largest department of the US government, this read like another culture war operation.

The concern I have is this sounds like screening for men over 30 is mandatory. What happens if someone doesn’t want the treatment if it’s recommended? Are they released? I’ve been reading that the links between treatment and risks, including heart/stroke issues, infertility and even enlargement of breasts is inconclusive. If someone wants to stay in the military, are they going to have to suck back those risks?

If treatment is mandatory, it’s the opposite argument he used when he instituted the anti-flu vaccine policy.
Click to expand...

It's not an issue for the US Military per say but an issue for men. As we age we loose testosterone, and that can have all kinds of negative effects.

This is good policy and we should probably look at following it by providing the option to our people.
 
  • Like
Reactions: QV
Of course CBC wouldn't link to his announcement video. If treatment is determined necessary, it's voluntary. The only thing being done is adding something to the list of conditions they screen for at PHAs.
 
McG said:
Some number of bases have stopped doing cyclical check-ups. If you are not deploying and do not have a specific ailment or injury, then they don't want to see you.
Click to expand...

Too bad. Periodic screening of certain routine diagnostics can catch dangerous things early.
 
If it were just a change base on medical best practices, it would not be a Secretary level announcement.
 
McG said:
Indeed. It can fix treatable problems before they lead to PCats, avoid troops preventably DAG'ing red at the last moment, and it can save lives.
Click to expand...
We are short of medical professionals.

Some of this is structural. We downsized the medical services radically in the 1990s without much thought to the implications.

Some of it appears to procedural. We have alot of medical professionals riding desks in Ottawa, not seeing patients.
 
PuckChaser said:
Have you looked at the side effects of low testosterone? Whole lot of stuff that degrades general effectiveness, let alone combat effectiveness. It's not something men are typically going to go get checked out for either. This is a long time overdue for men's health, especially in a high performing, physical occupation like the military.

The gong show is that in the US military you get a yearly checkup with a doctor and in Canada it takes a year to get your appointment to get your check up done every 5 years.
Click to expand...

What is crazy is the disparity between how easy it is for women to get hormone therapy vs how hard it is for a man.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top