A U.S. Navy officer is suing the leaders of the Defense Department and the Navy because they have denied his waiver requests to exempt him from getting the mandated COVID-19 vaccine. The Florida case began with a Navy and Marine Corps officer in 2021, but has soon ballooned to 36 plaintiffs from all military branches as well as some civilian Defense Department employees. "There are no current COVID-19 vaccine restrictions on deployments or assignments for the Marine Corps as a service," Capt. It also allows them to restrict sailors' movement "in order to comply with host nation quarantine regulations.". U.S. Pushes Back Against Military Vaccine Mandate Lawsuit Its just such an inappropriate position for the government to be in.. Quite the contrary, they view life whether their own or that of their fellow servicemembers as sacred and deserving protection.. Attorney General O'Connor Sues Over COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate for Theyre not pleasant. According to the First Liberty Institute, the public interest law firm representing the service members, each of the denials appeared to be identical, suggesting the Navy had not taken any of the religious exemption requests seriously. There is no military exclusion from our Constitution. The latest class action targets the Air Forces religious accommodation process, arguing that process is set up in such a way that getting a religious exemption to the vaccine is almost impossible. Meghann Myers is the Pentagon bureau chief at Military Times. Theyll accept that alternative and say, okay, you know, Im willing to do that instead. National Vaccine Lawsuit Injury Attorney - Carlson Law Firm Lawmakers expressed frustration with the news . Night shifts arent popular, especially on Friday night, and things like that. And they have different ranks, different different job responsibilities in the Air Force, a number of them are actually pilots in the Air Force. In December, the Air Force announced it had discharged 27 people for refusing to get the COVID . They become the exception and not the norm. "We are grateful for the support of the Legislature and the Governor in the State's efforts to block the . OConnor ruled that the blanket denial of their religious waiver requests amounted to a violation of the service members rights under the First Amendment andthe Religious Freedom Restoration Act. Tom Temin is host of the Federal Drive and has been providing insight on federal technology and management issues for more than 30 years. So that, right now that number is several thousand. Thousands of U.S. military defy COVID-19 vaccine order - Los Angeles Times 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. Two Service Members Sue Feds Over Military COVID Vaccine - Newsweek Well, what if somebodys not really sincere? The Texas case has smaller aspirations purposely, Berry said. The government responded to the lawsuit by pointing out that immunization requirements are common in the military beginning with the Continental Army under George Washington and that vaccines and are essential to preventing the transmission of diseases in close quarters. Ho and Judge Kyle Duncan noted that the administration had only reluctantly ended the military mandate after December congressional action, but Ross assured the panel that there are no plans to bring back the requirement. Theyre not following federal law. The quickest vaccine ever developed was for mumps. The story seems pretty similar to whats going on with these airmen. The service members sued this week to vacate a Pentagon vaccine mandate for all those in the military, arguing they face imminent harm if a court order isn't issued temporarily blocking the. Based on his Roman Catholic Christian faith and absolute opposition to abortion, he cannot accept a vaccine that has been manufactured, or whose efficacy has been tested and proved, using aborted fetal cells, the Florida lawsuit alleges, on behalf of a Coast Guard pilot. Under the law, theres no requirement that you adhere to a major or even recognized faith tradition, he said. 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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. A ruling in that case, issued this past November by the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati, upheld previous wins by attorneys representing the service members over the last year and took aim at the Air Force's process of approving religious exemptions. The "rule" and the ways it will be fought 1:43:40 How to fight the NFA and its unconstitutional rule about barrel lengths. 2:14:14 Pentagon exploring back pay for troops kicked out of military over vaccine mandate. Military leaders have long argued that to maintain unit health and troop readiness, troops have for decades been required to get as many as 17 vaccines, particularly those who are deploying overseas. Department of Justice seeks dismissal of military vaccine lawsuit Most of the plaintiffs express some sort of Christian faith, though the vast majority of denominations have no formal ban on vaccination. 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. Judge Matthew McFarlands decision brings the case, Doster v. Kendall, closer to trial as a class-action lawsuit. President Joe Biden signed the. The Florida case, in a 187-page complaint, takes measures much further. But the DoD is just saying Nope, we wont even recognize that we wont even consider it, even though they consider natural immunity for other communicable diseases and infections and things like that. AFLDS has also pushed ivermectin and. Mike Barry: Probably not at the Supreme Court level. Jehovahs Witnesses, who ban military service for their members, are probably the most prominent. The Texas lawsuit argues that the Navy Department is blanketly denying all religious requests, making the process a sham. Compensation Programs for Potential COVID-19 Vaccine Injuries - Congress Pentagon: Judge's halt of vaccine mandate for - Stars and Stripes Already, a soldier and Marine have filed a lawsuit arguing that service members who have already recovered from COVID-19 and therefore have natural immunity should be exempt from vaccine mandates, according to the Army Times. 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. Three of the event's witnesses doctors Jay Bhattacharya, Martin Kulldorf, and Marty Makary are part of a small group of medical experts known as the Norfolk Group. House passes defense bill ending COVID-19 vaccine mandate for service The Catholic Churchs policy on derived fetal cells has been clear for decades: the sin of abortion is so far removed in pharmaceutical development that a Catholic is not violating any principles by getting vaccinated. More than 800 unvaccinated service members have been ousted from the Air Force so far. 2:41 . The Pentagon formally dropped the requirement in January following a December vote in Congress to end the mandate. Attorneys for the unvaccinated Navy personnel argued in briefs to the 5th Circuit that Austins memo and other Defense Department actions show that the Navy still intends to treat unvaccinated personnel like second-class citizens because of their religious beliefs.. Hubbard Radio Washington DC, LLC. Other service members have struck out on their own to fight the mandate. The U.S . msn back to msn home news Skip To Navigation The government has since filed a notice that it plans to appeal the decision. Brazil's Emerging Judicial Dictatorship 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. Their lawyers have called a sham with applications being categorically denied., The Defense Department denied the process was onerous and said the Navy has a compelling interest in requiring vaccinations for personnel who often operate for long periods in confined spaces that are ripe breeding grounds for respiratory illnesses.. 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. Air Force officers, Secret Service agent among those challenging According data submitted in the Florida case on Feb. 8: The services have declined to provide any details about the circumstances of the religious approvals, but both lawsuits allege that at least one of those Marines is due to leave service later this year. 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. Subscribe to Federal Drives daily audio interviews onApple PodcastsorPodcastOne. Plaintiffs, therefore, do not object to safety measures that reduce the transmission of COVID-19 in the workplace, it reads. Judge tosses lawsuit over military vaccination mandate | Coronavirus The goal, representatives for the plaintiffs say, is to at least secure religious exemptions for their clients, but potentially see a Supreme Court ruling that would apply to all service members. The Army reported about 1,300 religious requests, none of which have been approved, as well as six medical exemptions. Judge grants relief to Navy SEALs who refused coronavirus vaccine, sued NEW ORLEANS Federal appeals court judges closely questioned a Biden administration attorney Monday on the consequences military personnel might face for refusing COVID-19 vaccinations, even. Mike Barry:It would be everyone who is requested and been denied a religious accommodation from the vaccine mandates, specifically the COVID vaccine mandate. Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine syringes at a vaccination clinic in the Peabody Institute Library in Peabody, Massachusetts, on Jan. 26, 2022. The World Health Organization approved Covaxin for emergency use in late 2021, making it a viable option for airmen who object to the three main U.S. shots. Because of those peoples religious beliefs and religious convictions. There was no indication when the judges would rule. 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. By The Associated Press WASHINGTON 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. Nov. 2, 2021. They argue that their. Jared Serbu: Got it. But there may be good reason for that. Pfizer Inc wants to intervene in a Texas federal lawsuit seeking information from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration used in licensing the company's COVID-19 vaccine, a litigation move that . A 5th Circuit panel rejected the Biden administrations request to block the judges order. The Department of the Air Force, which also issues guidance for the Space Force, has detailed it will be rescinding letters of admonishment, counseling or reprimand; records of individual counseling; nonjudicial punishments; and current involuntary discharge proceedings connected to vaccine refusal. Were pleased that the court has acted to protect our brave warriors before more damage is done to our national security. Im willing to go through that. And usually when somebody is willing to go through those measures, that demonstrates a degree of sincerity. "Former Soldiers may petition the Army Discharge Review Board and the Army Board for Correction of Military Records to request corrections to their records," the service's press release said. 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. But what we cant do is say, well, because they ruled this way, in this case, this is how theyre going to rule in all cases. Could the Supreme Court strike down the military's vaccination mandate? Another claimant, a Muslim Marine Corps captain, who said that his religious beliefs that require him to abstain from participation in that which is haram forbidden including the destruction and commoditization of innocent human life as exemplified by the use of human fetal cell lines derived from abortions, according to the lawsuit. The Navy comes in second with a total of 469 separations, which includes 50 this past week. Two staff sergeants, one Army, one Marine, have filed a lawsuit against three federal agencies, challenging plans to conduct mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations of military troops. Both cases are in a wait-and-see phase, where judges have granted injunctions against any discipline for vaccine refusal while the government responds to requests for information. To date, no members of the Army or Space Force have received a religious exemption, though nine airmen and three Marines have been approved. COVID-19 vaccine no longer a mandate for military. What that means for "This vaccine mandate is unlawful and does not reflect the Land of the Free," said General O'Connor. And at least in the Starbucks is that Ive been in recently where theyve been packed in like sardines. I mean, all of it is just fraught with ideological purpose, and suspected purpose.. The policy does allow commanders to "implement Health Protection Measures at any time or manner deemed necessary in support of operational safety and effectiveness." On Monday, Heather Hacker, an attorney for the Navy personnel, said the situation could be seen as worse now for them now that the older mandate policy has been rescinded, because current policy does not provide for a sailors religious objections to the vaccine to be considered when deployment or assignment decisions are made. She covers operations, policy, personnel, leadership and other issues affecting service members. Plaintiffs do not believe that staying true to their faith means exposing themselves or others to unnecessary risk, according to the filing. The military across the board is discriminating discriminating against people of faith. And one of the reasons for that is if they if theyre between the ages of 17 and 23, and theyre not vaccinated, were not even willing to talk to them. And so theyre basically closing off an entire segment of society in a discriminatory manner. Federal judge temporarily halts Air Force's COVID-19 vaccine mandate FILE - Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin speaks during a briefing at the Pentagon in Washington, Nov. 16, 2022. 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. 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. Because they will not compromise these religious beliefs, Plaintiffs have been threatened with separation from the military and other disciplinary action. 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. 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. Navy quietly rolled back punishments for SEALs seeking religious New data is out on COVID vaccine injury claims. What's to make of it? By Bethany Blankley (The Center Square) Military leaders will testify on Tuesday before the Military Personnel Subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee about the impact of the Department of Defense's COVID-19 vaccine mandate on DOD employees and military service members. (Susan Walsh/AP, File). 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. Military Grants Few Coronavirus Vaccine Exemptions as Deadlines Loom WASHINGTON (AP) The military services are still reviewing possible discipline of troops who refused the order to get the COVID-19 vaccine, defense officials told Congress on Tuesday, and they provided few details on how many of those who were forced out of the military would like to return. 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. If you want to swap with me, and they do that through the employer, or their employer offers that. The fetal cells were not used to produce either vaccine, National Geographic reported last fall. And in one instance, I saw one of the head people for recruiting in the military said, Were having a really hard time identifying, basically people who are eligible to serve in the military. Air Force vaccine case will remain a class-action, appeals court rules The judge's decision impacts 200 to 300 servicemembers stationed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, who filed the lawsuit against top military leaders back in February. Cincinnati federal judge blocks Air Force, Air National Guard - FOX19 Military members opposed to vaccines seek legal help | wusa9.com And yet were short, were saying that were having a hard time recruiting people. COVID-19 vaccines are proven to be very safe and effective at preventing COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths. 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.. 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. The Pentagon directed all the services to "formally rescind any policies, directives, and guidance implementing those vaccination mandates as soon as possible, if they have not already done so," according to a Friday press release. This disparity of treatment between medical and religious exemptions was constitutionally prohibited,Judge Reed OConnor said. For a population accustomed to having very little power over their personal decisions where they live, what they wear, how they cut their hair, how much they weigh the opportunity to have some control over their medical decisions is an enormous discovery. Jared Serbu: Mike, thanks for being here. And in some cases, according to some reports, its even more durable than the vaccine and you dont have to get boosters and things like that. They argue that their 1st Amendment rights are being infringed upon, because their sincerely held religious beliefs prevent them from receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. So I think that if one of these cases does end up in front of the Supreme Court, it will probably be addressed just on the narrow vaccine issue. US Military To Face COVID-19 Vaccine Lawsuit February 18, 2023. But although the Air Force has approved hundreds of medical and administrative exemptions, they have only approved a very small handful of religious exemptions and even the ones that theyve approved by their own admission, they are only for Air Force members who are basically already separating or are already on their way out. And now people will be able to take the analysis Supreme Court used and say, Okay, the way that they analyzed this issue, that might give us some indication of how they would analyze other issues, right. Produced by Will Reid , Rob Szypko . Starbucks, for example, doesnt have a vaccine requirement. What the government will have to prove, in both cases, is that while its granted thousands of medical and administrative exemptions though many of those are temporary that the high bar for approval of religious exemptions is necessary for keeping the force healthy and deployable.
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