Vaccinations

navyafgirl

Member
Joined
Feb 27, 2016
Messages
122
Can somebody go to an academy if they've never been vaccinated? My cousin wants to go. She's never been vaccinated because of her families religious views and history of family members getting really really sick. So her mom has always been able to get waivers from doctors and whoever else you need to get letters from to not need to get vaccinations. She plays sports and goes to public school so that has worked out fine.
I'm just wondering what the academies would think of that and if there are people who get waived to not get certain vaccinations due to allergies or religious views.
Any info is appreciated! Thanks!
 
Hmm I don't know the answer to your question, but if she hasn't been vaccinated due to religious views, I'm curious to know if her religious views would prevent her from killing someone if necessary to defend our country.
 
Pretty sure she would have to get vaccinated. We had a Marine separated for refusing some additional vaccines prior to deploying. So unless things have changed she should be prepared to get vaccinated if this is the path she wants to take.
 
Last edited:
Hmm I don't know the answer to your question, but if she hasn't been vaccinated due to religious views, I'm curious to know if her religious views would prevent her from killing someone if necessary to defend our country.
nope I think it's just because they use a little bit of fetus in the vaccinations and she's against abortion
 
nope I think it's just because they use a little bit of fetus in the vaccinations and she's against abortion

http://m.historyofvaccines.org/content/articles/human-cell-strains-vaccine-development

Your comment made me want to read a bit more. Interesting history of the rubella vaccine. There is a staggering amount of Internet info, from various sources and belief systems, out there, with presumably varying degrees of reliability.

Concur with Hoops - given the need for maximum unit operational effectiveness, am sure military members are required to participate in a vaccination program. I certainly did. It's classic utilitarian philosophy: the welfare of the many set above the wants or needs of the few. No doubt there are DOD regulations, instructions and policy statements that address the program.
 
I had to take the plague shot and yellow fever shot, same day, port and starboard arm aches. I think I made the corpsman's day. Had an unusual TAD trip scheduled.
 
Timely reminder to class of 2020. It's a good idea to get caught up with all immunizations prior to I day. Otherwise you will get caught up on iday. Day is stressful enough without multiple inoculations.
 
I remember being deployed and we had to get anthrax boosters. We each got handed a syringe and we got told to turn to our partner and give each out our vaccines. I have had nearly everything on the planet. I went for a physical after I got out and my regular doctor said, 'wow, I have never seen someone with so many vaccines. Well good news, you can't die now.' I got a good laugh. I have also taken lots of Malaria meds... Nothing like Malaria Monday in camp! Man, that stuff gives some vivid dreams!
 
Can somebody go to an academy if they've never been vaccinated? My cousin wants to go. She's never been vaccinated because of her families religious views and history of family members getting really really sick. So her mom has always been able to get waivers from doctors and whoever else you need to get letters from to not need to get vaccinations. She plays sports and goes to public school so that has worked out fine.
I'm just wondering what the academies would think of that and if there are people who get waived to not get certain vaccinations due to allergies or religious views.
Any info is appreciated! Thanks!
They will be on I-DAY. Infectious disease threatens all.
 
I understand the need to be sensitive to people when we can, but this is a military appointment, not a college. A lot of your rights are left behind when you join the military. An aside, you volunteered. No one is drafted into or forces to enroll in a service academy.

N*ot College
 
Thanks guys! I'll let her know... I know her mom is a little bit worried since she's never had them before and if she gets them all that she'll have bad reactions. Should they be spaced out and what happens if she does get bad reactions?
 
If and when she gets appointed they will give you a list of required vaccines. You have to enter the dates administered on the portal, at least for USAFA, and hand carry the vaccine records to I-day. There is time to get the required vaccines and space them out so she will not be getting a bunch at once. Also there are not nearly as many required as we currently give to infants.
 
Timely reminder to class of 2020. It's a good idea to get caught up with all immunizations prior to I day. Otherwise you will get caught up on iday. Day is stressful enough without multiple inoculations.

Yes, yes yes! To all future plebes this is an excellent reminder! Go to your provider! Even when you don't have any objections the list of vaccines for teenagers has grown in last few years (Hep A, HPV, 2 different Meningococcal). Many families lapse on coming in with teenagers for checkups. It is hard for us ( I am civilian physician) to get all the required vaccines in by civilian college time let alone service academy entrance if they show up the summer before they start. So this message is important for the future class of 2021 as well. I often have college kids finish up the vaccines series on their college breaks. Not sure how the service academy would handle this.

Tell her to go to her physician if she truly desires to get caught up prior to I day. To start at an advanced age would still take 6 months minimum. If it was truly a religious/abortion exception to the vaccines grown in cell lines that were derived from fetal cells that would just be Hepatitis A, Rubella, and Varicella. Varicella and Rubella can be given 1 month apart and 2 doses get you done. Hepatitis A requires 6 months between doses.
 
Back
Top