The postponement, which may last until late next year, will delay vaccine shots for all soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines who would be deployed early during an overseas conflict. This will include personnel assigned to many Navy ships, airborne units and fighter squadons, along with hundreds of thousands of others. Military officials say there is enough vaccine stockpiled for units and personnel who may be headed to the Persian Gulf and Korea. BioPort Corporation has been boosting production to meet future needs but before the military can take delivery of new vaccine the FDA must approve an amended license for the plant. May. The fallout from the failure to listen to reports from the troops may have disastrous effects far beyond what the DOD and the President anticipate.
Morale is low.
The armed forces are badly undermanned and commitments are many. Any extra losses now when soldiers are scattered around the world, overworked and exhausted, with longer and more frequent tours of duty playing havoc on the home front, may translate into a huge problem as many decide to walk away from their military careers just when they are needed most. The dollars to find and train replacements will cost us, the employer, extra billions. Overlaying all of this is a much more serious issue. Most of us understand that during war time there is only one goal-kill the enemy, win the war.