comment: >
  
  “Almost everyone”
  I’m not all over the place. I don’t support Russia invading. I don’t support arming Ukraine. I don’t support NATO. It’s not that difficult to understand. If you think Russia is bad, you should do some reading about the US. US imperialism is responsible for far more war crimes than any other country. Don’t forget we are the only country to drop nuclear weapons on another country. 
  I don’t know what a firehouse of bullshit is but you seem well-acquainted 😂
context: Are all the other vaccine mandates for the military still in place? The ones that haven’t been politicized? Thought so. >
  
  Republicans literally want to undermine our military readiness. >
  
  Who needs arms to defeat the US military? All you need to do is send a Covid-positive person in to cough in their faces and wait. >
  
  Pox blankets worked for the Conquistadors as well. >
  
  If they are afraid of the COVID vaccine wait till the bifurcated needle comes out for the pox vaccine >
  
  The Smallpox vaccine is actually incredibly dangerous, as vaccines go. But it's also effective. >
  
  It is I used to administer it and have finished the series. 
  I also treated a couple of Soldiers who leaned what happens when you ignore the “don’t touch your eyes or balls” part of the brief. >
  
  Yup, it's no joke. >
  
  Bad move. We have to get all kinds of vaccines to ensure health and readiness. The COVID vaccine should not be any different. >
  
  But Democrats had to compromise so that they could secure the trillion dollar pentagon budget. You win some, you lose some. >
  
  I understand having to compromise but it baffles me that of all the things the GOP could have drawn a hard line in they chose that. I guess they are just pandering to their moron base as usual to get votes and stay in power. >
  
  Republicans are fighting for the right to infect others. >
  
  They're also fighting for their survival as a party. Without chaos and anger over miniscule things, they have nothing of value to a huge majority of their poor/middle class base >
  
  The freedumbs they pedal are the ones mostly likely to harm others: infectious diseases, guns and the whole fucking religious freedom to hate. Nothing about freedom of sexual, gender or reproductive choice. >
  
  A true stupid and pointless victory for the GOP. Get ready for more of those. >
  
  Time to create a "Military-Only" version of a vaccine that fights common respiratory infections, and also SARS-COV-2 and other "bird flu" variants such as H1N1.  Problem solved.
  "Is this for Covid!?"
  "No, this is a military vaccine for weaponized respiratory viruses like SARS - wink wink"
  "OK, thanks!" >
  
  Yes, this is good. >
  
  In 6 months: COVID-19 rips through military, weakening preparedness. >
  
  While that makes an “edgy” post, the reality is all current serving members are vaxxed. Most of the recruits coming in the door will have been vaxxed. The general population is something like 70% vaxxed. So it’s a minority that will come in unvaxxed. >
  
  You can still get covid even if you're vaxxed. It still means you need time off. That 30% is enough to spread it all over and send many people home for as long as it takes to recover. It could also end some careers as they won't be fit for service with long haul covid. >
  
  Realistically, the vast majority of that 30% have had covid one or more times by now. This is dumb but it won't really make much of an impact this far into the pandemic. >
  
  We hear all the time about companies and stores and restaurants and manufacturing lines running behind because so many people are out sick. >
  
  No, when you get stationed in those countries you have to get the vaccinations as required by the host nation. 
  Some service members have already been required to get boosters in order to travel, and other location specific vaccines. >
  
  Must feel great to be stuck inside a tank or submarine with the guy who got a dozen or more vaccine shots but is happy to infect you for "religious reasons". >
  
  At this point we are all but certain the vaccine doesn’t stop transmission, so it really is a personal choice: take the risk of dying or essentially be sure you’re not. I think it should be mandatory to ensure people don’t die from this but let’s not pretend this makes much of a dent in transmission >
  
  
  At this point we are all but certain the vaccine doesn’t stop transmission
  
  No vaccine ever, ever in the history of vaccines has.  100% prevention of transmission is impossible.  The point is to minimize it. >
  
  Last time I checked I’m not catching it spreading polio or herp B while vaccinated 
  6 Covid shots in and I’m still catching and spreading it 
  A soldier being out of action is the same regardless of vaccine status for Covid as that falls on testing and isolation requirements >
  
  Long human history of military and military effects as vectors for infections disease.  One of the central themes of "Guns, Germs and Steel". >
  
  Can we end the mandate to the dozens of other vaccines I was required to get? No? Just COVID? Why? Because people don’t understand science? Ok that checks out >
  
  Exactly. Small pox? Anthrax? All the other junk??? Nope… just COVID. >
  
  And the Covid vaccine makes way more sense than the anthrax shots. >
  
  Anthrax is still an active bacteria that can be found everywhere. Especially any place with certain livestock. >
  
  They don’t give the anthrax vaccine in the military because of threat of interaction with livestock. They give it due to threat of weaponized anthrax, which the vaccine is not confirmed be effective against anyway. 
  I was in the military and I am pro-vaccine, including pro Covid vaccine, but the anthrax vaccine is the most questionable imho. Sure, it makes sense for veterinarians and other professionals that have close contact with livestock, but it is dubious for anyone else. >
  
  You're not wrong. And I guess the tone of the reply I was commenting on was more along the lines of it being unnecessary as if anthrax was rare. Anthrax can live hundreds of years when dried and be reactivated randomly. Heck we get people catching the plague here in the states from messing with animal carcasses. >
  
  Could Biden, as Commander-in-chief, just order all troops to get vaccinated? >
  
  Nope. >
  
  Can’t wait for another carrier to be taken out due to this. >
  
  I'm against rescinding the mandate but the article says 99% or so of Navy personnel are vaccinated. That's more than enough to protect against this happening. >
  
  Current personnel. Military is constantly rotating new members in and out of 4 year contracts. >
  
  Absolutely incredible. No oversight for the military who routinely fail audits, a neverending stream of bribes/kickbacks/fat hidden in the military budget for contractors/suppliers, and the people on the bottom rung now have to deal with some unvaccinated asshole giving them permanent disabilities from COVID. >
  
  I mean, this is the shit we have to live with as a nation because half of Americans watch FOX News, believe the Right Wing's lies, and then vote Republican. >
  
  The US Military has required dozens of vaccinations for a long time. Why is the COVID vaccine any different? >
  
  Because Republicans liked Russian propaganda designed to help make covid hit harder here in America. >
  
  Just another example of republicans hating our troops. >
  
  Congrats to republicans for making the American military just that much weaker to a preventable disease. >
  
  Preventable? 
  6 Covid shots in and I’m still catching and spreading it >
  
  Add the military to the ever growing incubator of COVID variants. >
  
  Should be all or none. Can’t pick and choose your vaccines. And sign a release. >
  
  Are all the requirements for which orders must be obeyed and which ones can be ignored, from orders for vaccination to those orders that may turn the tide of the war but result in the death of many soldiers, specified in congressional legislation?
  Can’t the military still require COVID vaccination of their personnel, or did congress create an exception for orders regarding COVID? And why isn’t this explained in the Associated Press article? >
  
  If i was a serving soldier i would ask for the vaccine voluntarily.
  Dying to respiratory failure just to show how much you love a particular politician/party seems ultimately self-defeating and dumb as fuck. 
  I know vaccine avoidance increases the rate of mutation and extends the life of the epidemic, and i really hope no one is stupid enough to avoid the vaccine. >
  
  We’re backsliding on our troops health and safety because people actually believe that the vaccine represents a mythical hell fairy. We’re doomed. >
  
  So goddamned stupid. >
  
  Military recruitment depends on low educated gullible youth, looks like they found the perfect subset of the population 🤡 >
  
  So fucking bizarre. Im over 60 and vaccines were mandatory for school, vaccines were mandatory for military, vaccines were mandatory for international travel and we’re going to let these antivax morons control policy? >
  
  So all an enemy of America needs to do is spread covid to our troops and it will weaken our military greatly... dumb plan. >
  
  Must be a coincidence that this would be exactly what Putin would want from his Republican puppets to weaken our defense.
  Republicans are the enemy of the US and should be barred from ever holding public office. >
  
  Re-assign the anti-vaxers to their own units. So what other orders do soldiers get to disobey if they are found objectionable by Tucker Carlson and you tubers doing their own research? >
  
  That sounds Nazi like >
  
  Sounds like military discipline to me and my 22 years of service. >
  
  Lol. This shit is meaningless. Congress has no authority to dictate military policy. >
  
  You clearly never served. >
  
  If a new upsurge of cases comes, will these geniuses and their anti-vax garbage look mighty stupid. But then the Rand Paul’s, etc. will be clamoring for the jailing of Dr. Fauci. >
  
  Next new law will end 6th grade education required for US troops... >
  
  But they get vaccines for all the other stuff… what’s the big deal? >
  
  Is the GOP open to deployed Troops spreading COVID-19 in deployments?For Biden, he might need to copy George Washington's plan to inoculate all troops to prevent them from spreading the virus Biden's case COVID-19 President Washington's Smallpox >
  
  And that's when everybody just forgot about a million dead Americans and that nuclear aircraft carrier that got knocked out of service when the whole fucking crew got sick. >
  
  Well, Tucker and Joe Rogan told em it was all a Satanic Democrat plot and that science is for cucks and losers.
  America is literally being dismantled by Right Wing propaganda that intentionally weaponizes and lionizes belligerent ignorance. >
  
  People cannot be allowed in the military because of flat feet but soldiers are allowed to choose to be more vulnerable to a preventable deadly virus because personal willful ignorance trumps science and legit health/safety of the troops. America is losing its mind. >
  
  It’s extremely effective at preventing severe illness. >
  
  Based on what data? >
  
  So you’re good then right? Why does everyone have to get it? If you’re protected then thats your choice and the Vaccine should work. It’s probably because you don’t have that much faith in the vaccine, you know it doesn’t do what they promised it would. 🤷 >
  
  In the context of the current post, because an outbreak could affect the readiness of our military. That’s why we’ve required our military members to get up to 17 different vaccines and have been doing so for around 200 years. In a broader context, because there are people who can’t get vaccinated for various reasons and a vaccinated population lessens the likelihood of them getting sick. I’d also prefer to not add to the strain on our healthcare system if I can help it: >
  
  It doesnt lesson the likelihood of them getting sick. Also all those other vaccine have been tested for the appropriate amount of time to know they are safe. It should be the person’a choice based solely on that fact that it was rushed without the proper amount of testing time. If you are a rational person that would make sense to you. >
  
  Russia scores another misinformation victory in the U.S. >
  
  Bad move. The military, famous for not caring about politics whatsoever, isn't requiring a Covid vaccination on top of the other dozen vaccines they require? How far we have fallen if the MILITARY of all people ignores rational thought to sate the whims of the GOP >
  
  that's an interesting take, to say the least >
  
  I believe the president has the power to reinstate the mandate if they see an outbreak.  He is the commander in chief.  I think Biden signed this knowing that the 'law' can't be enforced. >
  
  I love that the serviceman receiving the shot in the article cover photo has a marijuana tattoo lmao >
  
  Kinder and gentler. Just whine, cry, and defy orders until you get what you want. >
  
  This would be sad, except it's going to purge the troops of the really stupid volunteers. >
  
  Viruses don’t care about personal beliefs.  People will die from refusing this vaccine and at this point, so be it. >
  
  CDC reports 6 of every 10 Covid deaths have been vaccinated and boosted. >
  
  Yes correct and that was predicted long ago as the amount of the population vaccinated increased.  Deaths from COVID are still disproportionately higher in the unvaccinated as an overall percentage which is the more accurate representation of effectiveness. >
  
  Military leadership should not be undermined by politics. Shame on the GOP. >
  
  Readiness, what’s readiness? >
  
  Recruitment is a large part of it. Low recruiting numbers means drastic measures. >
  
  Don't require the vaccine, but dock their pay and bill them full price for medical care when they get covid. >
  
  This is a horrible idea. >
  
  It’s a necessary plan at this point. There’s not much choice. >
  
  You still can’t deploy without it, meaning you won’t be able to reenlist. Also, since you can’t deploy somebody else will have to take up the slack. 
  So chances are you’ll be shunted off somewhere where you’ll do the least amount of damage and be loathed by everyone who has to do your work for you. 
  Have fun with that. >
  
  Well... I wonder if this will shift the way the military votes. >
  
  Didn't Republicans/Trump take massive credit for accelerating vaccine development...? lol >
  
  Wow, when they're still mandated to take like 20 other vaccines? Lmfao, why was this a bad thing. It's like the one thing in the military  budget everyone agrees on but dumbasses like Rand Paul >
  
  Don’t let the military go GOP WOKE !! >
  
  Absolutely ridiculous garbage decision making placing politics over troop safety! >
  
  This feels like caving to political pressure from the Anti-Vax Right.
  If so, this is a blunder as the Right never engage in good faith, and will now use this as "proof" the vaccines should've never been mandated for anyone.
  Not sure why Biden fails to grasp the Right are not looking for healthy compromise or bipartisan solutions to America's problems, only to gin up anger and resentment to fuel their cultural Civil War. They've already show us they'll happily sacrifice hundreds of thousands of American lives for the sake of amassing political power by any means necessary.
  America needs to stop giving in to Fascists. >
  
  Is this biden's doing? >
  
  So can they also refuse all the other vaccines they have to take? Sounds like a really stupid policy that could affect military readiness. >
  
  Say what happens when you disobey a CO and flash him a Facebook post from your aunt? >
  
  I would not be surprised if some of those who disobeyed their CO and were released from service will try to use this law to sue the government and demand reinstatement and back pay. >
  
  Trying to appeal to the uneducated Midwest/Southern teenagers that’ve been brought up on anti-vax lies, I see. Need as many as they can get. >
  
  Fucking stupid >
  
  I disagree with this move, but I wonder if the many antivaxxers who were medicaled out will be reinstated. >
  
  Better not.  They disobeyed an order.  That doesn't/shouldn't get retroactively forgiven. >
  
  We’re allowed to disobey unlawful orders. >
  
  Breaking news: Republican eyeing a law for the next budget that would end mandate for US troops to follow orders. >
  
  If that is applied to all vaccines (not sure) it would significantly degrade our military readiness. Failure to get vaccinated for COVID in itself is a significant threat to our military readiness. I don't understand. >
  
  fucking Republicans demanding this stupid shit in order to compromise on a much needed bill. >
  
  Stupid wins again. >
  
  Glad to know that we have moron Republican congress critters micromanaging the troops. If we weren't fucked before we certainly are now. Next up: Prepare for the flat-earth battles! >
  
  Fucking ridiculous. >
  
  I think that they should put all the non-vaccinated grunts in their own units (don't mix vaccinated and non-vaccinated people together).  Then relegate the non-vaccinated units to something non important but also very suck; cleaning parking lots with tweezers or something.  At some point they will either catch covid and they aren't important for readiness or they will get vaccinated to not have suck detail.  Problem solved with no mandate! >
  
  So segregation >
  
  ...also known as "quarantine" >
  
  Theyre not sick >
  
  apparently, that's debatable >
  
  So if theyre not sick that would be flat out segregation >
  
  I can't tell if you're trying to pick a fight or just being obtuse.  These people are extra susceptible to both catching and spreading a very communicable, deadly disease.  Now that the military cannot "force" people to vaccinate and remove that threat vector, they need to quarantine the folks that have the possibility to spread COVID.  And, these people that are extra susceptible to COVID shouldn't be tasked with anything that is critical because they are quarantined.  Military doesn't like people doing nothing, but are totally ok with "make work" stuff.
  And, here's the most critical part: at any point they can choose to take a medically recommended vaccine which has been proven safe and that probably a billion people have already taken.  
  You know, kind of how we "segregate" people from school when they don't get their shots? >
  
  Vaccinated are also able to catch and spread it… >
  
  Just at lower rates, yes, I know, the rest of the class is past that lesson >
  
  People should be allowed to choose for themselves if they want the Covid vaccine or not. I think this is a step in the right direction. >
  
  There's going to be a lot of troops who are going to get sick. Of all the stupid ideas that can be had, this ranks in the top ten. >
  
  I'm all for getting the covid vaccine; I've had four of them myself ... But it needs to be a free choice. The mandates were ridiculous and I'm glad they're falling away >
  
  That’s kinda the issue. The military’s main target group, white men from rural areas, aren’t joining. Military leaderships cites vaccine hesitancy as a primary cause. >
  
  The ones at real risk will be the idiots who were never going to get it anyway.  GOP numbers can keep going down. >
  
  Wonder how the person that was 14 days from retirement but got discharged instead feels about this 😳
  Edit: I feel like I should clarify. I’m vaccinated and fully believe everyone should that is medically able ; the people that are negatively affected by this reversal did make their choice and have  to live with it. I am only saying that hearing this news must sting >
  
  Hopefully they feel as stupid as they objectively are. >
  
  I can’t speak to that >
  
  Honestly it no longer being mandated is a non issue
  6 shots of Covid vaccine in barely 3-4 months apart (more on route due to constantly lowering antibodies) with each one having a chance to kick your ass for afew days and your still catching and spreading covid more times than should be acceptable 
  Want to mandate it? Provide a better product that actually stops Covid on a substantial level to other vaccines that are mandated
  Everyone concerned about outbreaks happening, sorry to disappoint you but that’s gonna happen even if the shots where still mandated, solders being out of action? The vaccine does not stop that either, that lies on testing and isolation requirements >
  
  Fuck Joe Biden and the new world order! >
  
  Should get rid of all vaccine mandates, people should get them if they want to. Even in the military. This ain’t North Korea. This is the land of the free. >
  
  They kept the peanut butter shot in.. but COVID is too much and needs to be removed.
  This is why no one needs politics anymore.  They ruin everything. >
  
  Possibility it runs rampant in the military, then…? >
  
  Sounds great for Russia and China for germ warfare on US troops!  Putin is proud of his bought and sold RepugliKKKans!  What a great deal to undermind a nation’s army! >
  
  Time will tell here. If the Covid numbers go up in the military, it will be mandated again. Never get in the way of the military keeping its soldiers at the ready. Because when push comes to shove the military doesn’t care about your feelings. I specifically remember when everyone had to go line up for flu shots and some soldier said he doesn’t want the shot it’s just the flu he was told to shut the fuck up. >
  
  Well, they signed up knowing they were putting their lives on the line. Added bonus of them also being biological weapons. >
  
  Could other countries claim that unvaccinated US troops are biological weapons?
  But also the military doesn't give troops an option. They say "hey you're getting a shot" and hit them with it. >
  
  If you don’t want to be vaccinated! I am all for it. Seriously. >
  
  I can see the military "agreeing" to this, but just ignoring and continuing on what they're doing. New recruits gonna raise hell on something like this? That attitude gets fixed real quick. >
  
  You haven’t served in the military if you can see that. Going against a congressionally approved bill (therefore a lawful order) would be career suicide for any CO. >
  
  Imagine sending your immune system to war without any training >
  
  That is the tip of the iceberg. Wait until they start rebelling against the other vaccines. >
  
  I get the requirement for vaccines when enrolling in the Military.  However, this is not a "vaccine" in the sense that it does not provide long lasting protection from disease.
  Based upon the consensus of studies, the Covid shot provides increased immunity for 5-12 weeks.  After this initial period, there is some evidence that viral resistance actually drops below pre-shot levels.  The shot does appear to blunt the worst of our immune systems over-reaction to a new virus, but is nowhere near as effective as actually having and surviving an actual infection.  This is why they are now recommending a booster every 5 months.  Almost every scientific study has shown that those that contracted the virus BEFORE getting vaccinated have the best and longest lasting resistance to severe reinfection.
  The fact that this order has you so upset is because YOU are politicizing this issue. >
  
  Is the flu vaccine a vaccine?
  How long is long enough for something to qualify? >
  
  I have several friends in the military who never got the shot. This was never really enforced to begin with. >
  
  I know several people in the Army who were kicked out for refusing the vaccine. >
  
  No it doesn’t. 
  The President is the commander in chief and congress cannot alter that power. >
  
  Why didn't they figure this out before they ended the career of those people already trained, already adjusted to the military life and had chosen that path as a career ? Now they are claiming an emergency status in military recruiting numbers. LoL, I noticed Biden mentioned this less than a week after he tried the 590 billion student loan thing. Maybe the two things could have been woven together the way previous generations served and later benefited with a GI bill education. I have completely lost faith in the government and the quality of lack of quality leaders we have endured the past 20 years. It's sad and scary >
  
  Why not? >
  
  Why is it not a vaccine? >
  
  Okay. 
  Is the shingles vaccine a vaccine?  You can still get shingles if you get the shingles vaccine?
  Shingles vaccine
  Also, earlier versions of the vaccine used a live virus which meant you could spread shingles after being vaccinated. Is it no longer a vaccine?
  Also, when you are vaccinated for smallpox it creates a lesion that is infectious/contagious (though with vaccinia, a related virus, not smallpox) until it is fully healed and you can spread it during that time. Is that not a vaccine?
  What about the flu vaccine? You can still get and spread the flu after vaccination. flu vaccine
  You seem to not understand how most vaccines work. No vaccine is 100% effective for everyone and can’t guarantee you won’t get the disease it’s intended to prevent.  Nor does it always prevent transmission. 
  Most vaccines are intended to create an immune response and cause the immune system to pre-generate antibodies to prevent you from getting seriously ill if you encounter the same virus later. The rapidly mutating nature of Covid has increased the difficulty of that, which is why boosters are required. 
  So, I ask again - is the flu vaccine a vaccine? Or does it fail your (albeit misunderstood) definition? >
  
  As a nurse of 15 yrs and work on c19 units weekly I can say the vaccine is useless. >
  
  Good ol democrats showing their true colors once again. Gotta have as much cannon fodder as possible when you’re actively escalating wars around the world 🤷‍♂️ >
  
  Ah the what about syndrome strikes again.  No one’s good, so Russia might as well continue war crimes across an entire country.
  Here is a fun fact, the US and Russia can both be wrong, but one is currently performing war crimes in Ukraine while the other is not. >
  
  Lol I’m aware they are both “bad”. The US is responsible for plenty of war crimes, past and current. Democrats put on the facade that they are different than republicans, but when push comes to shove they serve the same interests. Spoiler, it ain’t yours or mine or Ukrainians’
  Edit: I also want to add that I advocate for peace between Russia and Ukraine. Do you really think that comes from sending billions in weapons to one of the two sides? Baffling how far libs will go to justify this shit >
  
  Wow your all over the place.  First of all yes like every country that has engaged in war has at some point committed a war crime.  Almost everyone is for peace.
  In order to have peace you need someone who you believe on the other side.  Currently Russia is not believable. I have no idea if your swallowing down the firehouse of bullshit or not.  Both Russia and the US signed accords guaranteeing Ukraine right to exist by giving up its nuclear armaments.  Russia has broken those accords and the US and the UK are helping because of those accords.  Do you suggest we not honor agreements with other countries?  Because your not going to end with peace that way.
  How about you let Ukraine decide whether fighting for their freedom from Russia is worth it or not.
  There can be peace at anytime.  Russia just needs to retreat to its borders and stay there.  I don’t understand the tanking for authoritarian fascist run countries.  Might want to talk to some people in former Warsaw Pact countries if they long for the days of being subjugated by Russia.