The Most Underrated Threat to National Security
High rates of vaccination hesitancy in the military jeopardize military readiness in responding to security threats and put the public at risk of infection.
I’m asking military, right now serving, truck drivers, medical, engineers, whatever you are, do not take this unlawful order (for) the distribution of this vaccine — Officer Cadet Ladislas Kenderesi, Canadian Armed Forces, at an anti-vaccine rally in Toronto (December 2020)
Dressed in his military uniform and bearing a knife in his holster, Kenderesi appeared at an anti-vaccine rally on December 5 in Toronto last year urging soldiers and healthcare professionals to refrain from distributing the COVID vaccine. Following the event, Kenderesi was promptly removed from military duty & has just been charged with mutiny. Earlier this month, Kenderesi’s supporters started a GoFundMe fundraiser of $50,000 to finance his legal fees. As of May 22, $505 had been raised after the page had been on-line for a week. GoFundMe has since taken down the page. Meanwhile, his rally speech has been viewed over 30,000 times on YouTube.
Vaccine hesitancy among the military in the United States is not a new phenomenon but it is in Canada. A third of the U.S. military has opted out of taking the vaccine with additional data suggesting the actual opt-out rate may be closer to 50%. A February poll found 50% of military-connected families did not plan on getting the vaccine. Compared to this, 85% of Canadian troops have received at least one vaccine dose. The Canadian Armed Forces have also been deployed in the biggest military operation since World War 2 to provide pandemic support to long-term care facilities, remote communities & public health units. Against this backdrop of military mobilization to aid in the pandemic response, Kenderesi’s actions stand out in stark contrast.
Vaccine hesitancy among the military is more dangerous than among civilians because troops actively interface with the public
Although the rate of coronavirus infections is lower in the U.S. military than the general public (8% versus 15%), research suggests that many military members might be asymptomatic. One study found that 10% of the U.S. Marine Corps who tested positive for coronavirus did not show any symptoms while another study found 43% of U.S. Navy crew members to be asymptomatic. Considering that 59% of all COVID transmission is driven by asymptomatic individuals, these troops may not realize that they are transmitting the virus to the very communities they aim to serve.
Military settings are hotbeds for infectious diseases and outbreaks are common. Personnel reside in close living quarters where social distancing is difficult to practice and hygiene may be suboptimal. Add this to the immunological toll taken on the body by physical exhaustion, sleep deprivation, psychological stress and you have the perfect conditions for infection to thrive. So it’s not surprising that last summer, coronavirus cases in the military were increasing at twice the nationwide rate in the U.S.
The United States Armed Forces have (ironically) launched an awareness campaign to educate service members about the vaccine through town halls and virtual meetings. Over 6,000 active duty service members are expected to support vaccination centers across the U.S. This wide outreach increases the military’s exposure to civilians, potentially putting the public at at risk.
Let’s not forget that the military is often stationed in vulnerable communities such as long-term care & remote populations as mentioned earlier. These communities may be especially vulnerable to disease transmission due to weakened immunity based on access to nutrition, healthcare, income-level, and other social determinants of health. To ensure their safety, it is crucial the military increase its vaccination rate.
A healthy military is a ready military
With 1.35 million troops, the U.S. military has the largest army out of all NATO member states, followed by Turkey who has 437,000 troops. This fact does not seem to have escaped Russian and Chinese intelligence groups who have unleashed disinformation campaigns sowing vaccine doubts in the U.S. In case of a global conflict, the military must be ready to operate at maximum capacity. This includes maximizing the military’s health through the increased immunity offered by the COVID vaccine.
Recent efforts to increase vaccination in the U.S. military have been successful
The past month has seen a 55% increase in vaccination in the U.S. military. The increase can be attributed to efforts by the Biden administration including virtual town halls for military families and military bases who have been offering incentives such as time off. While the U.S. moves in the right direction, do Kendersi’s actions allude to a Canadian retreat?
Fortunately, Kendersi appears to be a lone wolf. For one, Canada has not seen vaccines get politicized unlike the U.S., according to Steve Saideman, a professor at Carleton University. Wearing a mask or getting a vaccine is not central to the political identity of Canadians with politicians from both sides of the aisle encouraging preventive measures. Secondly, the Canadian military’s rate of vaccination is similar to that of the general public; 5% of the military has been fully vaccinated compared to 4% of Canadians.
Coronavirus will not be the last pandemic we face. With increasing disruption of natural habitats and globalization, we have set the stage for future pandemics to flourish. To effectively deal with them, we will need to rely on the military again. Militaries have long played a role in contributing to vaccine research and development, from the development of the first inactivated influenza and adenovirus vaccine to participating in vaccine trials. Today, they can continue serving the public by becoming immunized and serving as role models.
