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Air Force discharges 27 for refusing to get COVID vaccine : NPR - NPR.org Military officials announced this week that, after months of warnings, they have . Her work has appeared in Air Force Magazine, Inside Defense, Inside Health Policy, the Frederick News-Post (Md. US Military To Face COVID-19 Vaccine Lawsuit February 18, 2023 This whole thing is really unprecedented, right? Meghann Myers is the Pentagon bureau chief at Military Times. The Navy began issuing guidance to sailors earlier this month. Here's the Army rule for vaccine refusals, which service leaders President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. condemned the mid-morning attack. Ryan Bruce, a Marine Corps spokesman, told Military.com. When they inquired about seeking religious accommodation for the vaccine, the Navy informed many of them that they could face court-martial or involuntary separation if they refused to take the vaccine. Bill Would Force Military To Reinstate Those Who Refused COVID Vaccine The Texas lawsuit also states the plaintiffs are willing to continue to wear masks, social distance and take mandatory COVID-19 tests, rather than get vaccinated. Circuit Court of Appeals panel that federal court injunctions against the mandate are still needed, in part because decisions on deployments and assignments can still be made based on vaccination status. On Friday, President Joe Biden signed the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2023, which repeals the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for service members. In late August, Pfizers vaccine received full approval under the brand name Comirnaty. 11. The complaint also brings up the issue of Food and Drug Administration licensure. The Navy has, however, granted medical exemption requests submitted by other personnel. Right? Other plaintiffs focus not on the abortion issue, but on several Bible passages that refer to the body as a temple. COVID vaccine mandate lawsuit: Air Force officers argue shots are More than 60,000 Army soldiers losing pay, benefits over vaccine The problem here is that the government is simply unwilling to offer any compromises. The . A group of lawsuit plaintiffs, including four Air Force officers and a Secret Service agent, have asked a federal court to block the Biden administration's coronavirus vaccination mandates,. The first military COVID-19 vaccine mandate will take effect in November. The Marine Corps separated 165 Marines over the past week due to their refusal to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Military Vaccine Mandate Lawsuit Filed by 16 Troops - Coffee or Die Jared Serbu: Mike, thanks for being here. For OConnor, the violation ofthe lawwas clear: Defendants have substantially burdened Plaintiffs religious beliefs. The Marine Corps had fielded 3,500 religious waiver requests, granting three, in addition to about 250 medical waivers and 400 other administrative approvals. Theres yet another lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the militarys COVID-19 vaccine mandate. 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And they recognize that theres almost a presumption of belief. This means that you do not need to prove that your injury was caused by a doctor or the vaccine company's mistake. All rights reserved. Air Force spokesperson Ann Stefanek declined to comment on ongoing litigation and how it may affect how the service handles religious accommodation requests. Military members opposed to vaccines seek legal help | wusa9.com The government burdens religion when it put[s] substantial pressure on an adherent to modify his behavior and to violate his beliefs.. The lawsuits dont mention other vaccines these troops received either in their childhoods or during service the chicken pox, rubella and hepatitis A vaccines are all required that used descendent fetal cells in development. Nearly 1,500 more people are exempt for medical or administrative reasons, such as severe allergic reactions or upcoming retirement. Mike Barry:Well, I mean, thats the beauty of the way that the law works, right? More than 60 service members have joined lawsuits against the U.S. government, alleging that the military's process for awarding religious vaccine exemptions is a sham. Air Force Officers Sue Over Vaccine Mandate Religious Exemption Denials Peter Hill: Stats shown illness up in the military after COVID vaccine A 5th Circuit panel rejected the Biden administrations request to block the judges order. Pope Francis has called vaccination against COVID-19 a moral obligation and an act of love., Frequently people let themselves be influenced by the ideology of the moment, often bolstered by baseless information or poorly documented facts, he said in January, adding that vaccines are not a magical means of healing, yet surely they represent, in addition to other treatments that need to be developed, the most reasonable solution for the prevention of the disease.. VICP provides compensation for injuries and deaths caused by Through much prayer and reflection, Plaintiffs have sought wisdom, understanding, and guidance on the proper decisions to make concerning these COVID-19 vaccines, and Plaintiffs have been convicted by the Holy Spirit that accepting any of the three currently available vaccines is against the teachings of Scripture and would be a sin, according to a Florida lawsuit first filed in late 2021, then amended on Feb. 7 with additional plaintiffs. As of Tuesday, the Air Force had denied about 6,800 initial religious waiver requests and 3,600 appeals, and has not ruled on nearly 3,500 more cases. They had been told to get certain vaccines or other things without even be notified of a religious objection.. Federal judge expands exemption to military's COVID-19 vaccine mandate The U.S . Technology Artificial Intelligence Ask the CIO Automation Big Data CIO News Cloud Computing Cybersecurity IT Modernization Open Data/Transparency Reporter's Notebook Defense On DoD Army Navy Air Force Many religious exemption applications have explained that the service members werent aware of the use of fetal stem cells prior to all of the controversy over the COVID-19 vaccine, but for the purposes of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, they dont have to explain themselves. In one of many ongoing federal lawsuits challenging COVID-19 vaccine mandates across the country, Judge Reed O'Connor of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas issued a group . COVID-19 vaccines are proven to be very safe and effective at preventing COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths. But it may not take a lawsuit for the issue to change the environment when it comes to mandatory vaccination. Until any harm is remedied, according to Bruns, the case is still active. The Navy SEALS filed their lawsuit in November of 2021, describing what they saw as a cumbersome 50-step process to obtain religious exemptions for the COVID-19 vaccine. Only the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is manufactured using fetal cell lines. Jared Serbu: I want to go back to what you said earlier about the process being a sham, because I want to try and draw how much of an issue that actually is, in these cases. In the filing, attorneys argue that the plaintiffs are facing criminal conviction and dishonorable discharge, which would strip them of any veterans benefits. The chief of Irans nuclear program, Mohammad Eslami, acknowledged the findings of the IAEA report. Telling Plaintiffs they must accept or receive a shot they oppose according to their sincerely held religious beliefs, or face court martial, dishonorable discharge, and other life altering disciplinary measures, disgraces the sacrifices these heroes have made, according to the lawsuit. Given the prevailing public health guidelines and the state of the virus, there is currently no intention to require universal vaccination of all service members, Ross said. Federal News Network's DoD Cloud Exchange: From enterprise to the tactical edge discover how the Defense Department and military services intend to advance their use of cloud technologies. While it allowed service members to apply for religious exemptions to the mandate, it has not granted a single one. msn back to msn home news Skip To Navigation Navy quietly rolled back punishments for SEALs seeking religious I think one of the militarys concerns is whats the limiting principle here? There is no COVID-19 exception to the First Amendment. Is there any assurance on the record, that there will be no deployment decisions based on vaccination? Judge James Ho, one of three judges hearing the case asked Department of Justice lawyer Casen Ross. 1:51:01 Awkward Andrea Mitchell lectures MSNBC reporter about using term "pro-life" 2:09:32 Baby "chop shop" FOIA lawsuit. New family, former Corvias employee join lawsuit against Fort . T he MAGA medical group that spent the pandemic pushing horse paste and malaria meds as quack COVID cures has a new crusade: suing the Pentagon to stop its vaccine mandate. The next stop in the litigation is likely to be an appeal by the Department of Defense and the Biden administration to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit. All rights reserved. Several lawsuits have been filed by sailors opposing the mandate and challenging the Navy's approach to reviewing the religious exemption requests. US troops refusing the COVID-19 vaccine: What happens to them? Federal judge temporarily halts Air Force's COVID-19 vaccine mandate Like the other service branches, the Navy required all active-duty service members to be fully vaccinated before Nov. 28 or risk a full range of disciplinary action. In his order, OConnor granted an injunction against the Biden administration and the Department of Defense, preventing them from enforcing the vaccine mandate against any of the named service members who had applied for a religious exemption. The mandate treats comparable secular activity (e.g., medical exemptions) more favorably than religious activity. Staver believes the Florida case case has a good chance of making it to the Supreme Court, potentially invalidating all government mandates for COVID-19 vaccination. Jared Serbu: Last thing, theres a lot of these vaccine cases, even just military vaccine cases floating around in various district courts and circuits the moment. Troops who refused COVID vaccine still may face discipline The three coronavirus vaccines currently available in the United Statesthe Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and, as of Saturday, the Johnson & Johnson versionsare approved on "emergency use. The judge recognized that when he granted our [temporary restraining order] on Feb. 2 because toward the end, he said the public has an interest also in this because these are courageous skilled, individuals who are not easily replaceable, Staver said. Jared Serbu: This case seems remarkably similar to another case that I think First Liberty was also counsel on with a group of Navy SEALs before the very same judge, I believe too. In the Navy, none of more than 4,000 religious exemptions had been approved, but there were about 252 temporary and 11 permanent medical exemptions. Our lawsuit is certainly centered on religious exemption, but our lawsuit is broader than that to block the mandate in general of a non-FDA approved product, Staver said. Two Eglin Air Force base officers are among the plaintiffs in a federal lawsuit challenging the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for U.S. military personnel. Military Grants Few Coronavirus Vaccine Exemptions as Deadlines Loom There are some notable caveats. Editors note: This story has been updated with information from the hearing. "It hasn't done it yet. And both lawsuits include arguments that the plaintiffs prayed on the issue and came to the conclusion that vaccination would violate their principles. COVID-19 vaccine mandate for Air National Guard spurs Oklahoma lawsuit Best listening experience is on Chrome, Firefox or Safari. In December, the Air Force announced it had discharged 27 people for refusing to get the COVID . Mike Barry:It would be everyone who is requested and been denied a religious accommodation from the vaccine mandates, specifically the COVID vaccine mandate. Compensation Programs for Potential COVID-19 Vaccine Injuries - Congress They argue that their. Two Service Members Sue Feds Over Military COVID Vaccine - Newsweek Mike Barry: I think theres almost 30 now. The plaintiffs argue that violates the Religious Freedom Restoration Act and the First Amendment. He has criticized the Air Force for what he sees as a failure to carefully consider the merits of each exemption request and instead sweepingly reject them. Members of the U.S. military who haven't been vaccinated against COVID-19 are starting to face the consequences. WASHINGTON (AP) A bill to rescind the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for members of the U.S. military and provide nearly $858 billion for national defense passed the House on Thursday as. That includes protection from an adverse action while their exemptions are in process, a key part of the complaint, according to one of the attorneys on the lawsuit, which alleges that the plaintiffs have been removed from their jobs, flagged for promotion or otherwise hampered during the exemption process. This piece originally appeared in The Daily Signal. And in fact, he said, the exemption process is fraught in and of itself. And to say, basically, no, you will do this because we said so and if you dont, were gonna kick you out. So thats usually unwise, and so practitioners who are in front of the Supreme Court frequently like us, we usually know not to do that. Brazil's Emerging Judicial Dictatorship That leaves around 14,400 airmen and guardians less protected in the COVID-19 pandemics third year. The new policy guidance to the services makes no mention of reinstating service members who were separated from the military for refusing the shot. I know, off the top of my head, the number in the Navy is somewhere near 4,100. Are there major differences here? Theres been a lot of great saints that have gone to prison, so Im willing to do that.. The temporary restraining order means the military cannot punish airmen and Space Force guardians whose application for a religious exemption to one of the federally endorsed vaccines was denied or is still being processed. They dont offer what are, in the legal speak, we call advisory opinions. Top Pentagon officials do not plan to alter their current "lawful orders" requiring the coronavirus shots for troops, unless they are granted waivers for medical or religious purposes, the. The fetal cells were not used to produce either vaccine, National Geographic reported last fall. There are fresh concerns that public support for ongoing military assistance may be waning. Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine syringes at a vaccination clinic in the Peabody Institute Library in Peabody, Massachusetts, on Jan. 26, 2022. The latest data from the military show that roughly 30,000 active-duty service members remain unvaccinated against COVID-19, despite a Defense Department mandate issued in August and deadlines. The Military Can't Get Troops to Take the Covid Vaccine. Come Again? Simply put, no actual fetal cells were used in the development of any of the COVID-19 vaccines the cells in question were replicated by scientists, in labs, from tissue harvested previously. The Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines do not need fetal cell lines for development or production but were tested on fetal cell lines replicated from a fetus aborted in the 1970s to ensure their efficacy. While in Texas, the sailors offered descriptions of their jobs, in Florida, the biographical information goes into training, deployments and expertise, attempting to make the case that their involuntary discharges would be a huge loss. Tom Temin is host of the Federal Drive and has been providing insight on federal technology and management issues for more than 30 years. Per FDA guidance, these two vaccines are interchangeable and DoD health care providers should use doses distributed under the EUA to administer the vaccination series as if the doses were the licensed vaccine, " she wrote. Military Services Will Amend COVID Vaccine Refuser Records So They Aren They will also have to make the case that vaccinating, or involuntarily discharging, every service member is the least restrictive means of keeping the force safe from COVID-19, rather than enforcing masking or social distancing or in some cases, grandfathering in troops who acquired some immunity after catching COVID-19. And, in fact, the Department of Defense allows medical exemptions and administrative exemptions from the vaccine. A federal appellate judge has dealt another blow to the military's coronavirus vaccine mandate by allowing a high-profile class-action lawsuit against the Air Force to move forward. Members face the same injury: violation of their constitutional freedom by defendants clear policy of discrimination against religious accommodation requests, wrote McFarland, of the U.S. District Court of the Southern District of Ohio. I think we win under the First Amendment, because you have individualized exemptions with medical exemptions, but not religious exemptions.. Theyre burdensome, but the person says, But you know what, at the end of the day, Im not have to inject something in my body that violates my religious beliefs. Lawyers for a group of Navy SEALS and other Navy personnel who refuse to be vaccinated for religious reasons told a 5th U.S. They include the small risk of myocarditis, which has anecdotally occurred in 1,626 U.S. residents out of more than 200 million fully vaccinated, with the highest risk in men under 24. And I havent heard of a single Starbucks shutting down. More than 1.14 million out of the 1.4 million active military members have been fully vaccinated as of Wednesday, according to DoD data. And so of course, that means you have to bring different lawsuits on behalf of people, depending on what branch of the military that theyre in. House Republicans warn about loss of public trust after COVID lockdowns Hes one of the attorneys representing the airmen challenging the mandate, and he spoke more to Jared Serbu on theFederal Drive with Tom Temin. National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program - Health Resources and The Navy lawsuit is one of several ongoing legal challenges to the military branches' policies on religious exemptions to the DoD COVID-19 vaccine mandate.