It has been broadly reported over the last couple of days that forty percent of U.S. Marines have refused to take the COVID-19 vaccine.  Interestingly, individual Marines were not interviewed as to why.  Sec Def Woods speculated that some were just giving up their place in line for someone else, or they had received the vaccine elsewhere or that they were waiting for the Department of Defense to make in mandatory.  By the way, as long as the vaccines are subject to EUA, the DOD cannot make their use mandatory, and such a mandate would not extinguish to right to an objection of conscience.

Here’s a link to the USA Today story:  COVID vaccine: Nearly forty percent of US Marines decline it (usatoday.com)

Some law makers have written the White House, asking the president to issue a waiver, allowing the DOD to make the vaccines mandatory under the EUA.  It is not known if the White House has decided on a course of action in response to this request.

So what?  This development should lift the spirits of anyone facing a similar situation or a similar future prospect.  Many U.S. Marines, who are really good at taking orders (and also really good at exercising personal initiative) are saying ‘No thanks’ and standing by it – that’s a confidence builder. It puts one in excellent company, and a lot of it by the looks of things.

The United States Marine Corps has served this nation with courage, honor and distinction since its inception.  Those objecting and refusing to take the vaccine deserve our support.  All Americans in service to our country deserve that support. Write your congressional rep. and senators and let them know.  Whether objections are based on religious, philosophical or medical grounds, they deserve to be heard and respected.

And to my brothers and sisters in the Marine Corps, ‘Hoorah!’ from an old Army Mule.