Should our soldiers be able to serve if they refuse to

take their flu vaccines?

http://www.star-telegram.com/238/story/1645205.html

"WASHINGTON — U.S. troops will begin getting required swine flu shots in the next week to 10 days, with active-duty forces deploying to war zones and other crucial areas going to the front of the vaccine line, a top military commander said Tuesday.

Air Force Gen. Gene Renuart also told The Associated Press that as many as 400 troops are ready to go to five regional headquarters around the country to assist federal health and emergency management officials if needed as the flu season heats up.

The Pentagon has bought 2.7 million vaccines, and 1.4 million of those will go to active-duty personnel. National Guard troops on active duty are also required to receive the vaccine.

As a result, the military is expected to provide health officials with an early assessment of the vaccine."

How about our Merchant Marines?

http://www.newsday.com/long-island/nassau/merchant-marine-students-must-get-swine-flu-vaccine-1.1519248

"After an outbreak of flulike symptoms in August among 30 students at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, where four students were diagnosed with swine flu, all 970 students will be required to get the H1N1 vaccine, an academy spokesman said.

The academy was the only Long Island college to report a significant flulike outbreak among students. Stony Brook University's medical director, though, reported seeing "a few more students than we normally do" this time of year - averaging about six cases a week - said university spokeswoman Lauren Sheprow. The university has about 23,000 students.

Health officials said college-age students are in one of the groups - young people from 6 months to 24 years old - more susceptible to contracting the virus."

You do what you are told and you don't get to pick and choose which legal orders you will obey and which you won't. Also, if you enlist I am sure that most know upfront that they will be required to get all kinds of shots and vaccines.

:thumbsup:

Accepting vaccines as ordered is an explicit requirement of enlisting for military service in all branches.

Imagine the outrage.