Covid Vaccine question class of 27

I agree with whoever said: "if vaccines are a big issue for you, this is probably not the school for you". While there and in the military/maritime portion of my career I had to get many vaccines or shots including anthrax (worse in my opinion), yellow fever, small pox, flu shots, tons of hiv draws, take malaria pills, just off the top of my head. One time I had to get 4 shots at once even though I had paper records that said I'd already had them....it wasn't in "their" records, and their records are what count. There is too much competition for seagoing jobs and billets, and too much liability, for companies to deal with someone who doesn't want to have the required shots; they'll just send you home. Also, as a leader, if you refuse required vaccines, how can you then require your charges to get them - it becomes a major issue. Covid did become contentious and no judgement here either way but if it means a lot to you, a typical corporate office job is probably a better way to go.
 
I do find the moving goalpost interesting. When the requirements for M/N were instituted it was based on the DOD requirement, specifically the SECDEF memo. Now that the SECDEF Memo has been rescinded it is supposedly based on the need to "align with shipping companies". Curious what the rationale will be once shipping companies and unions start rescinding their requirements.
 
I do find the moving goalpost interesting. When the requirements for M/N were instituted it was based on the DOD requirement, specifically the SECDEF memo. Now that the SECDEF Memo has been rescinded it is supposedly based on the need to "align with shipping companies". Curious what the rationale will be once shipping companies and unions start rescinding their requirements.
In light of new evidence coming out daily, companies and states are abandoning the mask and vaccine mandates.
 
I do find the moving goalpost interesting. When the requirements for M/N were instituted it was based on the DOD requirement, specifically the SECDEF memo. Now that the SECDEF Memo has been rescinded it is supposedly based on the need to "align with shipping companies". Curious what the rationale will be once shipping companies and unions start rescinding their requirements.
One should keep in mind that some of what the shipping companies may require is dicatated by the laws of the countries where the ships are destined. As an example, and not CoVid related, I think in my day Korea (as many Pacific nations) required a yellow fever vaccination. If I didn’t have it, I simply didn’t sail until I got it!

Looking at the cruise line industry, in general current status is reflected in the statement “Most major cruise lines do not require guests to be vaccinated unless they're traveling from or to a destination that requires it.” NOTE the key words “…from or to a destination that requires it.” In most if not all, that same statement applies to M/N during sea year.
 
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I’ve only checked two of the state maritime schools, Mass & Maine, and both require the two shot CoVid sequence. Mass Maritime for example states “Faculty, Staff, Residential Students: Vaccination required, boosters encouraged”.
 
I’ve only checked two of the state maritime schools, Mass & Maine, and both require the two shot CoVid sequence. Mass Maritime for example states “Faculty, Staff, Residential Students: Vaccination required, boosters encouraged”.
I can respect them owning their own rules. I do not have respect for an entity that won't take ownership of a rule (any rule, not just COVID shots) and tries to act like they don't have a choice when clearly they do.
 
One should keep in mind that some of what the shipping companies may require is dicatated by the laws of the countries where the ships are destined. As an example, and not CoVid related, I think in my day Korea (as many Pacific nations) required a yellow fever vaccination. If I didn’t have it, I simply didn’t sail until I got it!
I'm fairly certain you can still travel on a ship to any of the few countries that still require a COVID shot as a condition of entrance but would be required to remain on board if you do not have proof of having had a shot.
 
I'm fairly certain you can still travel on a ship to any of the few countries that still require a COVID shot as a condition of entrance but would be required to remain on board if you do not have proof of having had a shot.
Those are waters I would not want to test. First of all a ship’s Master probably assigns someone to verify requirements and something as important as a countries regulation would likely take the hard line, not hope for leniency at the dock based on a promise. An analogy would be the passport, something required by many countries to have six months of validity upon arrival. If it doesn’t you can be returned Stateside.
 
Those are waters I would not want to test. First of all a ship’s Master probably assigns someone to verify requirements and something as important as a countries regulation would likely take the hard line, not hope for leniency at the dock based on a promise. An analogy would be the passport, something required by many countries to have six months of validity upon arrival. If it doesn’t you can be returned Stateside.
A significant percentage of US flag deep draft vessels do not even visit foreign ports. A large percentage of the ones that do have set schedules to a set rotation of ports. It would take minimal research to know for a fact the local rules for all the ports on a vessels schedule prior to embarking a vessel.

On another note ... since about a third at last check of each class goes active duty, are those M/N are now being held to a requirement based on private industry which will never actually apply to them?
 
Not every shipping company even requires COVID vaccination anymore. If a 3/M or 3A/E wants to, he or she can likely find a job without having the vaccine. The industry trend is away from the requirement. If a particular country still has a requirement, there is no need to go ashore.
 
Or you could do what me and thirty other members of my split did, and get the booster because "it is required for real shipping companies" and then get thrown on a training vessel while unvaccinated students were given "real" commercial ships for the sailing period. What a joke.
 
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Thing to note as I currently attend and have been dealing with this for a year or two now: Get the vaccine anyways because they will find ways to hose you with or without the vaccine. I was coerced and harassed into getting the booster shot in december while out at sea (and by out at sea I mean tied up with an ROS ship) and was told that if I did not get the booster, I would be set back into next years class.

Additionally, those that refused the original vaccine were "forgotten" about and those in my class without the vaccine got the first ships assigned for this sailing period and had a conventional (read: normal) sailing experience. I am so frustrated with the academy as a midshipman right now. Saying that there are so many sailing billets is a lie they have been peddling since before my split left for sea in November. First sailing for A split sailors is broken at the moment and I would encourage any parents here to strongly push their plebes to be to select B/C split if they want a normal sailing experience at all. There are only billets when the ATRs want to work, and during the holidays they don't. 35 cadets were thrown on the T/S Kennedy. Additionally, some cadets were thrown on on other training ships as well. Personally, I know a cadet that was assigned to THREE training ships this sailing. Anyone who argues that a training ship is a valuable education for a Kings Pointer has obviously never attempted to complete a commercial cargo project on a ship that does not carry cargo.

Sorry for the rant, but I am just really fed up with this administration and the counter-intuitiveness of the last three years.
 

I am so frustrated with the academy as a midshipman right now. . . .

Sorry for the rant, but I am just really fed up with this administration and the counter-intuitiveness of the last three years.
In my day, we had better options for sailing, but the current state of the US Merchant Marine is far different. That said, being frustrated with the place is certainly nothing new. . . .
 
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