GOP lawmakers split over mandatory vaccines for US military members

COVID vaccines and heart inflammation in young adults a ‘likely’ link: CDC panel

Fox News medical contributor Dr. Janette Nesheiwat argues the condition is extremely rare and says vaccine benefits outweigh any potential side effects.

Lawmakers are torn over reports that U.S. Army members may soon be required to receive COVID-19 vaccinations.

Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., said in a Twitter post that he has heard from military members who say they intend to leave the service if they are forced to receive the vaccines.

Massie introduced legislation in June that would prohibit any requirement that service members receive a COVID-19 vaccination. The bill currently has 23 cosponsors, including Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., and Andy Biggs, R-Ariz.

Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., replied to Massie’s tweet, accusing him of “pandering” and noting that service members are required to receive many other vaccinations in order to serve.

Former Rep. Denver Riggleman, R-Va., added that sickness and death both negatively affect military readiness.

Both Riggleman and Kinzinger have U.S. military service experience.

A poll conducted by Blue Star Families and the COVID Collaborative of nearly 2,500 military-connected families released in May found that a majority of respondents had been or planned to be vaccinated. Among those who had not yet been vaccinated and hadn’t scheduled appointments, 50% said they did not plan to get the vaccine.

A recent study also showed a higher prevalence of heart inflammation – a condition known as myocarditis – among members of the U.S. military than previously expected. While the cases remained rare, the study found 19 instances among 436,000 second doses administered to male military members. Researchers had been expecting to find eight cases.

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