Why Mandate COVID-19 Vaccinations for Active-Duty Military Personnel?

US Defense Department senior leaders have had “preliminary discussions” about making COVID-19 vaccination mandatory for all U.S. military troops once the experimental vaccines receive Approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Pentagon spokesperson John F. Kirby said during a press briefing on July 6, 2021.

Currently, there are three COVID-19 vaccines Authorized for use by the FDA.

Kirby was adamant that the required COVID-19 vaccine remains voluntary — for now. Although Kirby said there is no decision yet, communications to the military forces suggest that more than thinking is underway.

Throughout the eighteen-month COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. DOD has confirmed (26) fatalities related to COVID-19 out of the 1.3 million active-duty personnel.

However, recent data indicates heart-related issues have been identified in military-aged people.

The journal JAMA Cardiology published a case series of 23 male patients on June 29, 2021, including 22 previously healthy military members. Myocarditis, a heart condition, was identified within 4 days of receipt of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine in these cases.

And the U.S. CDC confirmed on July 6, 2021, over 1,200 heart-related cases in people under the age of 30 are under review following an mRNA COVID-19 vaccination.

And, the UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has reported similar heart cases following mRNA vaccinations. Myocarditis and pericarditis cases are rare in the general population, and it is estimated that in the UK, there are about 6 new cases of myocarditis per 100,000 patients per year and about 10 new cases of pericarditis per 100,000 patients per year.