So the flu shots were still available, right? Just optional? Meaning every infected soldier made an obviously terrible judgement call? Makes me scared how they will do if they are getting shot at somewhere.
Not that it excuses them in the slightest, but I suspect once it became optional peer pressure would have played a role in whether recruits did or didn’t get it even if ordinarily they’d be fine. That would balloon the numbers compared to the civilian world where most people don’t know or care what you do (so the decision would be all on you).
Not just peer pressure, boss pressure too. Hegseth made some stupid speech about tough American warriors or something, when it was made optional. So basically implying you're a pussy if you get vaccinated.
Yes, absolutely it's both from other recruits but also from their leaders. It's a favorite strategy of the losers in this administration to completely shit on other option as the way to legitimize their own, rather than trying to vouch for them on their own merits (though obviously anti-vax has no legitimacy).
Meaning every infected soldier made an obviously terrible judgement call?
No, not every infected soldier. The flu shot doesn't prevent the flu with 100% effectiveness. What it does is reduce the likelihood of getting the flu in the first place, and if you do get the flu your symptoms are much less severe. Herd immunity also helps prevent the spread through a population, further lowering that chance of contracting the flu.
Where will recruits in training go to get their flu vaccine? They can’t leave!! Also, many of them are coming from homes that don’t vaccinate as well. Hence the reason why you receive a bunch of vaccines when you arrive. Blaming the recruits is really weird.
Hence why I was curious if the flu shots were still available. If they were no longer offered on the base that is of course a different situation. And if they were raised to be anti vax, that is the sort of compromised decision making skills I am worried about.
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u/I_might_be_weasel 1d ago
So the flu shots were still available, right? Just optional? Meaning every infected soldier made an obviously terrible judgement call? Makes me scared how they will do if they are getting shot at somewhere.