Editor's Note: This is an opinion column. Fugitive in $18 million COVID fraud scheme extradited to U.S. Energy Department report on COVID's origins rekindles ongoing debate. The short answer is yes: The President of the United States can order members of the military to take the COVID-19 vaccine. The DOD continues to work with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other agencies to stop the spread. But Jonathan Moreno, a professor of medical ethics and health policy at the University of Pennsylvania, says the Biden administration's approach . While a small number in reference to the 180,000 cases the United States confirms every day, the military is comprised of only about 1.3 million active-duty personnel. Here are some of their personal stories. Some 40,000 National Guard and 22,000 Reserve soldiers who refused to be vaccinated against COVID-19 are no longer allowed to participate in their military duties, also effectively cutting them off from some of their military benefits, Army officials announced Friday. The vaccines have some rare side effects, including heart inflammation that has affected at least 22 service members, according to a study from the JAMA Network. Potential recruits can apply for waivers for any disqualifying medical condition, but the memo does not give guidance for what would lead to an exemption for someone diagnosed with COVID-19. DoD may have calculated most military recruits are aged 18-25, at lesser risk for severe cases of COVID-19, and those with mild cases could be immune, increasing the immunity level of the overall force. While the Pentagon keeps secret the number of coronavirus cases in the military, data from the Defense Department indicates over 6,500 coronavirus cases at more than 150 bases in every state in the United States, except Iowa, Indiana, Minnesota and Montana. This mental fuzziness, often referred to as "brain fog," has become one of a number of reported Covid-19 recovery symptoms. Follow him on Twitter @StevenBeynon. The United States military will not allow those who have previously been diagnosed and recovered from COVID-19 to enlist . "We're going to give every soldier every opportunity to get vaccinated and continue their military career," Lt. Gen. Jon Jensen, director of the Army Guard, told Military.com in an emailed statement. Indeed, as Americans, these tough times will likely improve the resilience of both our militaryand the nation. Recruits can apply for waivers for all permanently disqualifying conditions, but without further guidance for exceptions dealing with COVID-19, a review authority would not have justification to grant a waiver, Military Times notes. The pandemic has exacerbated structural inequities, infecting and killing black people and those without access to healthcare at higher rates. But like the rest of us, the military has, and will, endure this public health crisis. The Pentagon has banned survivors of COVID-19 from enlisting in the military, according to a government memo released this week. Any infectious disease, we want to make sure theyre not infectious at the time. This story will be updated with any response. As Americans, these tough times will likely improve the resilience of both our militaryand the nation. Were fortunate to be able to look to themilitary for supportduring this national public health crisis and it has played a major role in the federal response. Individuals with severe enough cases to have suffered lung, heart, kidney, and brain damage would not be eligible for military service under the existing medical guidelines. WASHINGTON The Defense Department has begun barring the enlistment of would-be military recruits who have been hospitalized for the coronavirus, unless they get a special medical waiver. The U.S. military is banning enlistment for anyone who was been hospitalized forCOVID-19, a Pentagon official told CBS News' David Martin. However, medical researchers have cautioned against assuming surviving COVID-19 provides full or even partial immunity to future infections. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Get the latest in military news, entertainment and gear in your inbox daily. The thoughts expressed are those of the author. Copyright 2023 Military.com. It is unclear what would qualify a soldier for a waiver on religious grounds. I never realized: Airbnb hosts warn of scam taking advantage of Watch live: White House monkeypox response team holds briefing, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Shark Tanks Kevin OLeary blasts Ocasio-Cortez: She kills jobs by the Haley to hit Trump on spending record in closed-door Saturday speech, Trump asks for roughly six-month delay in New York fraud case. As of Friday, 5,171 active-duty military personnel have tested positive for COVID-19. All of the U.S. military services have now begun disciplinary actions and discharges for troops who have refused to get the mandated coronavirus vaccine . The memo is authentic, Pentagon spokeswoman Jessica Maxwell confirmed to Military Times. Nathalie Grogan and Emma Moore. As the Defense Department negotiates its way through the coronavirus pandemic and its fallout, military entrance processing stations are working with new guidance when it comes to bringing COVID-19 survivors into the services. . COVID survivors' main symptoms can linger for weeks or even months, causing pain, trouble breathing, nightmares and even organ failure. Due to underlying structural barriers, a blanket ban on previously hospitalized COVID-19 survivors regardless of their current health status will disproportionately affect minorities and low-income individuals. Texas Gov. "On the third day of being on oxygen, I sent a message to my fianc. If the soldiers continue to refuse the vaccine, the consequences could be even more dire. Photos of people who died from Covid-19 are projected onto the Brooklyn Bridge in New York . If soldiers, sailors, airmen, or Marines are ill with coronavirus, the flu, or something else, it can hurt their ability to fight if needed. However, I do not think that the lack of research available warrants permanently disqualifying patriotic Americans from serving in the military.. Soldiers are required to be innoculated against at least a dozen other ailments, including the flu and hepatitis. Fortunately for her and many others, long COVID survivors have been able to find each other on social media and share their symptoms and recovery times, giving one another hope and companionship during an otherwise extremely dark time. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. By attempting to simply guard against the unknown, DoD has thrust itself into larger questions of structural inequalities and maintaining readiness long-term. Three things to know about what critics are calling Mississippis Jim Mike Lindell calls DeSantis a Trojan Horse, Twitter discloses another possible government censorship effort, Legal experts say Fox News on shaky legal ground in Dominion lawsuit, Trump reigns supreme at a diminished CPAC, Judiciary Democrats go after GOP whistleblowers in FBI probes, Texas property tax bill excludes divorced, LGBTQ couples from getting relief, Manchin indicates opposition to Biden lands nominee over internal memo. And I think theyre almost done with that now, he said. At the same time, were having our health professionals and our doctors and researchers take a look at that, come up with any recommendations that theyll provide to me and [Defense Secretary Mark Esper]. A military recruitment memo sent out by the US Military Entrance Processing Command (MEPCOM) stated that individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 will not be allowed to join the military even after they recover. If there are any indications that a recruit hasnt fully cleared the virus or is still suffering from complications, they could be prevented from moving on to initial entry training. But the guidance has since been updated to allow recruitment of people who weren't hospitalized. When most people think about the military and the coronavirus, they think of stories such as the hospital ship, USNS Comfort, deploying to New York City, or the National Guard helping with test sites, or the Army Corps of Engineers erecting temporary hospitals this past spring to handle an overload of sick patients. This spring, the aircraft carrierUSS Theodore Roosevelthad a coronavirus outbreak aboard ship that sickened more than 1,000 sailors of nearly 5,000 crew members. The memo prompted howls of disbelief on social media. While guidance has been updated to disqualify those who have been hospitalized, infection rates show that a blanket disqualification becomes tacitly discriminatory. Concerns over lags in testing, prevalence of high risk populations, and non-compliance with social distancing orders may create the conditions for a second surge in those states. U.S. U.S. military Travel Travel Ban Coronavirus. Are ther are there any long-term, lasting effects? As of now, Guardsmen are barred only from attending federally funded drills and other training events, which make up the bulk of their service. The Department of Defense medical waivers are usually required for. Sign up for notifications from Insider! A sign for a COVID-19 isolation center in Markham, Ontario on Wednesday. Nathalie Grogan and Emma Moore, Center for a New American Security The Hill reached out to the Pentagon for comment. So far, it has made more than 260 recommendations. For example, aspikein coronavirus cases to nearly 15o at U.S. bases onOkinawa,Japan, has caused concern among local authorities, who are anxious about the spread of the virus into the population. ), LTG Anthony R. "Tony" Ierardi, USA (Ret. Stay up to date with what you want to know. Read about the most current guidance here. Thats what our health care professionals are looking at right now, and theyll come up with that recommendation on if theres any changes required to the accession standard, he said. Three things to know about what critics are calling Mississippis Jim Mike Lindell calls DeSantis a Trojan Horse, Twitter discloses another possible government censorship effort, Legal experts say Fox News on shaky legal ground in Dominion lawsuit, Trump reigns supreme at a diminished CPAC, Judiciary Democrats go after GOP whistleblowers in FBI probes, Texas property tax bill excludes divorced, LGBTQ couples from getting relief, Manchin indicates opposition to Biden lands nominee over internal memo. Donovan added that he had explained the policy earlier on Thursday morning to Senate Armed Services Committee members worried about the ban and its effects on recruiting. The Army National Guard and Reserve deadline to receive the vaccine was June 30, the latest of all the services, which required vaccination last year. Do Democrats need a past superstar to hold the White House in 2024? However, given the limited research on COVID-19, there are likely a few factors that military medical professionals are trying to hash out when it comes to recruiting survivors: Whether respiratory damage from the virus is long-lasting or permanent, and whether that can be assessed; the likelihood of recurring flare-ups, even if someone has had two consecutive negative tests; and the possibility that one bout of COVID-19 might not provide full immunity for the future, and could potentially leave someone at a higher risk to contract it again, perhaps with worse complications. Fortunately, the men and women of the armed forces are mostly young, and in good physical health, which reduces the likelihood they will need hospitalization. But exemption approvals are rare. The official, citing the new guidance, explained that "individuals diagnosed or confirmed with COVID-19 but not hospitalized are medically qualified to process for accession 28 days following home isolation," but those "individuals diagnosed or confirmed with COVID-19 and hospitalized are medically disqualified for accession, subject to further review of hospitalization/comorbidity records, and waiver by a Service Medical Waiver Authority.". There are fresh concerns that public support for ongoing military assistance may be waning. The Army in particular struggles with annual turnover and meeting recruiting mission and accordingly introduced new tactics in the past two years including branching into urban areas; this ban undercuts these nascent but vital efforts. COVID-19 Survivors No Longer Banned From Serving In US Armed Forces However if a new recruit has not yet fully recovered from COVID-19 or is still suffering from ongoing side effects, he or. This piece originally appeared in The Daily Signal. The DOD offers free resources through Military OneSource. A Pentagon spokeswoman confirmed toMilitary Times, which first reported on the new policy, that the memo is authentic. ), Next Generation National Security Fellows, The Shawn Brimley Next Generation National Security Leaders Fellowship, Joseph S. Nye, Jr. National Security Internship and Mentoring Program, 2022 CNAS National Security Conference: Security in the Balance, US waited too long to withdraw from Afghanistan, Military Analyst: U.S. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider This piece is part of the CSIS International Security Program's Transition46 series on Defense360. / CBS News. Specifically, it lays out guidelines for MEPS staff to deal with potential, as well as confirmed, coronavirus cases. National Guard forces in at least 20 states have also reported cases. This ban applies uniquely applies to coronavirus survivors while allowing applicants with histories of other viral, non-chronic illnesses to enter the military. A recent memo from Military Entrance and Processing Command (MEPCOM) added to previously issued start-stop guidance from the Department of Defense relating to COVID-19. As public health experts and researchers race to find treatments, develop and vaccine and generally study the latest coronavirus, there is still a dearth of information on its short- and long-term effects. THE HILL 1625 K STREET, NW SUITE 900 WASHINGTON DC 20006 | 202-628-8500 TEL | 202-628-8503 FAX. A Pentagon official said this is "interim guidance" that will remain at least until more is known about the damage that the virus does to the lungs. '", During the screening process, a reported history of confirmed COVID-19 will be annotated Considered disqualifying pic.twitter.com/ZKx91AUbXo. The initial guidance, a military recruitment memo from US Military Entrance Processing Command (MEPCOM) circulating on social media and first reported on by Military Times on Wednesday, said that a COVID-19 diagnosis, even after recovery, would be considered disqualifying. The average age of survivors is now into the 80s and because of COVID-19 lectures from hibakusha at the local museum have fallen by 90 per cent. A diagnosis of the COVID-19 coronavirus may keep prospective recruits out of the U.S. military, according to a memo from U.S. Military Entrance Processing Command making the rounds on Twitter.. U.S. Military Entrance Processing Command issued the missive to recruit processing stations saying a history of COVID-19, confirmed by a laboratory test or a clinician diagnosis, is permanently . The highest number of recruits come from southern states, which are slowly starting to reopen despite the absence of a decline in infection and death rates. There is also new guidance for examining an. Data indicate only 1 in 4 Americans can work from home, the ability of which tends to benefit workers in professional and business services, which are also higher wage earners. The contents of the memo, which has been circulating on the internet, were confirmed to Newsweek by the Pentagon, which described them as "interim guidance."

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