This year, thousands of military members from the navy, air and space force, and coast guard filed class action lawsuits against the government’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate issued by the Department of Defence. Many soldiers have requested an exemption from COVID-19 vaccination on religious grounds, yet very few were accommodated and some were disciplined or forced into premature discharge or retirement. This could, however, be history repeating itself—something strikingly similar happened two decades ago.
Anthrax and Vaccine Mandates in the Military
Anthrax is a serious infectious disease caused by gram-positive, rod-shaped bacteria known as Bacillus Anthracis. It is found in nature and commonly infects animals when they ingest anthrax spores. The spores become activated to multiply and can produce toxins that lead to disease.However, anthrax is not a major issue in the United States because it mostly affects livestock, which are usually vaccinated against it. In humans, anthrax may cause ulcers, skin sores, and other flu-like symptoms. According to the CDC, anthrax is not contagious or generally transmissible between humans.
