If the pentagon didn’t mandate that all service members receive the COVID vaccine, would you have gotten it?

That’s a tough one. I’m glad that I was able to retire from the Navy before all of this happened. I’m not anti-vax but I’m medical so I really read all of the research and I’m trusting my immune system to keep me healthy. I feel sad and betrayed in a way by the military and the VA for mandating this for all service members and VA workers. I won’t be practicing anymore because I refuse to comply.

I retired in 1994 so am a bit older. Having had vaccinations since the late 50’s without any known negative affects fear of the future is not a factor. I chose to get Moderna vaccinations simply because of its efficacy against hospitalization and/ or dying! Made it this long and didn’t want COVID to take me out. ( I did have COVID between vaccinations and it was a home event only.)

Everyone can choose. I choose to delay dying if at all possible.

If something is proven to greatly reduce my chanches of dying or getting sick; I would get the vaccine. When I was on active duty I obeyed all rules, regulations and orders without question. I took an oath to do so and I did.

If I was still in, most likely. I was an AF Public Health technician during the years that they were first making the anthrax vaccine mandatory, and I remember many individuals refusing the vac, making them non-deployable, thus no longer of any value to the Service.
I did chose to get vaccinated because of the volunteer work that I perform, but as a civilian, I believe that something like this should not be mandated, there are many valid reasons to not get this vaccine. However, I also believe that when you signed that line at the bottom of that enlistment contract, you gave of your personal rights to choice and should do what the Service feels maintains your value to them.

I was an eager first recipient; my wife, also and we're both Retired. She was idly looking for vaccination sites and lucked into one, albeit a cross town (I mean Los Angeles, so not just "around the corner") trip. We ended up having a nice stroll and seeing a mall we've never seen before. All in all, an nice day trip and got vaccinated at a well-managed site; got us in and out in half an hour.

I've gotten flu shots, polio vaccinations, and shots for all sorts of stuff. It's there to help us stay healthy and keep the nasties from revenging our bodies. If you don't want a vaccine then, by all means, don't get one. But don't then complain about how sick you've gotten, or how sick the person to whom you've transmitted it has become. I know that even inoculated people can pass the virus on, but there is a difference.

Sgt., one would think if a vaccine is proven to save lives and reduce your chances of becoming ill and spreading a virus; you would welcome the vaccine! Empirical studies have shown repeatedly its effactiveness.

Yes. It is a safe and effective vaccine. Millions of people in the US have taken the vaccine and are much safer as a result.

Damn Straight. I got the two shots for my brand as soon as I could. I had all kinds of shots in the Navy and lots of shots since for overseas travel to Isreal, Australia, Thailand, and China. I can not understand anyone NOT getting the vaccine for the disease that has killed more than 500,000 Americans.

Yes!!!!!!! I owe it to my fellow soldiers, my countrymen, and to our military to deployable. But then again, I don't support insurrectionists traitors.

My mother is in an Alzheimer's home - someone on the staff who was UN-vaccinated took the virus in side and now 15 residents (includingMom) are sick and 4 have died.My Aunt and my Brother can't get a clear picture of Mom's status - corporate has moved in people and Lawyers, and apparently there is a class action lawsuit in the works. It was a lovely home, and Mom was really happy there. I just a little ticked that someone who worked in an Alzheimer's home decided that they were too important to get the vaccine. I got the jab as soon as I could (Thank You VA)