Pentagon CANCELS Vaccine Mandate…But What About Everyone Who Was Forced?

The Pentagon has finally dropped the immoral, unscientific, and unconstitutional COVID-19 jab mandate on U.S. military personnel.

The Pentagon rescinded the mandate after it was pulled out of the National Defense Authorization Act that was approved last month.

Joe Biden signed the defense policy bill just before Christmas that included a provision approved by the House and the Senate to repeal the administration’s military COVID-19 jab mandate.

BREAKING: The Pentagon has ended its COVID vaccine mandate for the U.S. Military after Kevin McCarthy demanded that it be pulled out of the National Defense Authorization Act that was approved last month. pic.twitter.com/xvP5DG1XKs

— Ryan Saavedra (@RealSaavedra) January 10, 2023

“The legislation gave Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin 30 days to rescind the vaccine mandate,” Fox News stated.

“The Defense Department had already stopped all related personnel actions, such as discharging troops who refused the vaccine.”

“The Department will continue to promote and encourage COVID-19 vaccination for all service members,” Austin said in a memo.

“Vaccination enhances operational readiness and protects the force.”

Fox News reported:

Austin’s memo still gives commanders discretion in how or whether to deploy troops who are not vaccinated. Commanders, he said, have the authority to maintain unit readiness and a healthy force.

That includes, he said, “the ability of commanders to consider, as appropriate, the individual immunization status of personnel in making deployment, assignment, and other operational decisions, including when vaccination is required for travel to, or entry into, a foreign nation.”

Vaccine mandates forced more than 8,400 troops out of the military for refusing to obey a lawful order when they declined to get the vaccine. Thousands of others sought religious and medical exemptions. Austin’s memo ends those exemption requests.

The Defense Secretary instituted the mandate in August 2021 after the Pfizer vaccine was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Austin insisted the vaccine was necessary to protect the health of the force. He and other defense leaders argued that troops have for decades been required to get as many as 17 different vaccines. No other vaccine mandates were affected by the new law.

“This is a HUGE victory,” tweeted Rep. Lauren Boebert.

“Now, it’s time to make it right for the people whose lives were destroyed by this disgraceful mandate!”

The Pentagon has RESCINDED their COVID vaccine mandate.

This is a HUGE victory.

Now, it’s time to make it right for the people whose lives were destroyed by this disgraceful mandate! pic.twitter.com/M0CKukgSYX

— Lauren Boebert (@laurenboebert) January 10, 2023

Is it really a “victory?”

The mandate caused the bulk of the force to receive the experimental COVID-19 injection.

Roughly 99% of active-duty troops in the Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps received the shot.

98% of the Army took the shot.

Around 90% of the Guard and Reserve took the shot.

Although the mandate is lifted, the damage has been done.

What are the long-term health implications for active-duty military personnel?

“It’s great the Pentagon finally lifted the unconstitutional Covid vaccine mandate… but what about all those service members who were coerced to get it and now have life altering side effects… What are you gonna do for them?” wrote Tomi Lahren.

It’s great the Pentagon finally lifted the unconstitutional Covid vaccine mandate… but what about all those service members who were coerced to get it and now have life altering side effects… What are you gonna do for them?

— Tomi Lahren (@TomiLahren) January 11, 2023

How will this impact our military’s readiness?

“America’s military is the most lethal fighting force in the world – and this egregious COVID vaccine mandate hampered its readiness. Now, we must restore benefits for those wrongly discharged over the mandate,” Sen. Ted Cruz tweeted.

Fantastic news. America’s military is the most lethal fighting force in the world – and this egregious COVID vaccine mandate hampered its readiness. Now, we must restore benefits for those wrongly discharged over the mandate.https://t.co/lAmtkTuGrj

— Senator Ted Cruz (@SenTedCruz) January 11, 2023

In addition to potential health implications for vaccinated troops, unvaccinated U.S. military personnel may still continue to face discrimination.

“In fact, the Secretary’s memo still permits military commanders to require the vaccine in making decisions regarding unvaccinated service members. There are still far too many in our military who were forced out or are still facing career-ending actions because of the Covid vaccine mandate. America owes it to those who defend our Constitution and our freedoms to ensure they do not lose theirs,” said First Liberty Institute Senior Counsel and Director of Military Affairs Mike Berry.

The Hill added:

In the document, Austin still argued that the vaccine mandate is meant to ensure force readiness and is critical to the health and safety of the force, giving commanders the reins in deciding whether or not to deploy troops who are not vaccinated.

“All commanders have the responsibility and authority to preserve the Department’s compelling interests in mission accomplishment,” he wrote.

Leaders are also able “to consider, as appropriate, the individual immunization status of personnel in making deployment, assignment, and other operational decisions, including when vaccination is required from travel to, or entry into, a foreign nation,” Austin added.

As for the thousands of active-duty service members who were discharged for refusing the shots, they will not be reinstated.