{"id":292346,"date":"2021-07-06T23:46:14","date_gmt":"2021-07-06T20:46:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/republican-lawmakers-split-over-mandating-covid-vaccine-for-military\/"},"modified":"2021-07-06T23:46:14","modified_gmt":"2021-07-06T20:46:14","slug":"republican-lawmakers-split-over-mandating-covid-vaccine-for-military","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/republican-lawmakers-split-over-mandating-covid-vaccine-for-military\/","title":{"rendered":"#Republican lawmakers split over mandating COVID vaccine for military"},"content":{"rendered":"

“#Republican lawmakers split over mandating COVID vaccine for military<\/strong>”<\/p>\n

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A pair of House Republicans traded barbs on Twitter<\/a> about requiring the COVID vaccine for all US military personnel, amid a long shot push to bar The Pentagon from mandating the jab.<\/p>\n

The Defense Department does not have the legal authority to require soldiers take the COVID vaccine currently, as it was only app<\/a>roved by the FDA for emergency use authorization.<\/p>\n

As a result, it can only be encouraged for soldiers, but not required, as scores of other vaccines are by the armed forces.<\/p>\n

Pfizer and Moderna continue to await full authorization from the Food and Drug Administration for their COVID vaccines, though both are widely expected to be approved for a fuller authorization.<\/p>\n

Once that occurs, DoD officials will be able to mandate the vaccine for active-duty service members.<\/p>\n

While full authorization for one or both vaccines is not expected for a few months, the Army Times reported<\/a> last Thursday that the Army has directed commands to prepare to administer mandatory vaccines as early as Sept. 1 of this year.<\/p>\n

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As of now, the Department of Defense can\u2019t legally mandate soldiers to get the COVID-19 vaccine.<\/figcaption>
Carl Court\/Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The directive, obtained by the outlet, came from the Department of the Army Headquarters.<\/p>\n

Responding to that report on Saturday, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) wrote on Twitter<\/a> that, \u201cI\u2019ve been contacted by members of our voluntary military who say they will quit if the COVID vaccine is mandated,\u201d before referencing his legislation to prohibit such a requirement.<\/p>\n

The legislative effort, which has little-to-no chance of ever becoming law, has an impressive 24 cosponsors from all ends of the political spectrum.<\/p>\n

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I\u2019ve been contacted by members of our voluntary military who say they will quit if the COVID vaccine is mandated.<\/p>\n

I introduced HR 3860 to prohibit any mandatory requirement that a member of the Armed Forces receive a vaccination against COVID-19.<\/p>\n

It now has 24 sponsors. https:\/\/t.co\/lbqYESmBYy<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) July 3, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

However, the factual problem with Massie\u2019s tweet was his reference to \u201cquitting\u201d the military.<\/p>\n

Once an individual has reported for duty and taken the oath of enlistment, service members are contractually obligated to remain in the armed forces.<\/p>\n

Leaving without the permission of the military is considered going absent without official leave. <\/p>\n

Going AWOL is considered a serious desertion charge, something Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) said those in the armed forces understood going in.<\/p>\n

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The FDA has only given the vaccines emergency use authorization.<\/figcaption>
Carl Court\/Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Kinzinger, who served in the Air Force, wrote in response to Massie that there was \u201c[s]o much wrong with this tweet even beyond how naive it is,\u201d before listing his grievances.<\/p>\n

First, Kinzinger noted, \u201csorry, but you can\u2019t quit the military.\u201d Second, he said, \u201cthere are about 3890 mandatory vaccines in the military already.\u201d<\/p>\n

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They can\u2019t just quit. That\u2019s the whole oath to the constitution, service contracts and all that.<\/p>\n

Military personnel are mandated to receive many vaccinations. I was jabbed dozens of times. Sick military members affect readiness. Death doesn\u2019t help either. https:\/\/t.co\/BB6qJvPr5l<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Denver Riggleman (@RepRiggleman) July 4, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

Kinzinger took issue with Massie\u2019s apparent ignorance on the myriad other vaccine requirements, writing for this third point, \u201cyou knew this when you joined\u201d before adding \u201cTHE VACCINE WORKS\u201d as his fourth and final statement. <\/p>\n

\u201cGood luck with your pandering though,\u201d Kinzinger added.<\/p>\n

Former Rep. Denver Riggleman (R-Va.), who retired in 2020, also took aim at Massie on Twitter Sunday<\/a>, writing, \u201cThey can\u2019t just quit. That\u2019s the whole oath to the constitution, service contracts and all that.<\/p>\n

\u201cMilitary personnel are mandated to receive many vaccinations. I was jabbed dozens of times. Sick military members affect readiness. Death doesn\u2019t help either,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

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Rep. Thomas Massie has sponsored legislation to potentially prohibit a vaccine requirement for military personnel. <\/figcaption>
Carl Court\/Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In response, Massie doubled down, tweeting out<\/a> Monday, \u201cThank you to the science<\/a>-illiterate libs who boosted my military-vaccine tweet to 13 million impressions!<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m no expert on the terms under which someone would be discharged from the military for refusing a vaccine, and I don\u2019t give legal advice but there\u2019s a history.\u201d\n <\/p><\/div>\n