The decision for a military COVID vaccine mandate mirrors similar steps by governments throughout the world as they grapple with the extremely contagious delta strain. The strain has sparked a surge in new cases, hospitalizations, and fatalities in the United States, comparable only to the peak we saw in the winter of 2020.
The dangers of fast spread are especially severe in the military, where service personnel live and work in close quarters in barracks and on ships. Any significant viral epidemic in the military, especially one as ruthless as the coronavirus, poses a serious risk to America’s capacity to defend itself in the event of a security crisis.
In response, the Secretary of Defense has made COVID vaccines mandatory among all service members, with few exceptions. Members with religious or applicable medical exemptions will likely be able to avoid the vaccination, should they choose to do so. Otherwise, only President Biden will be able to waive informed consent.