Sen. Marshall Discusses COVID Vaccines and Boosters on Good Morning America

(Washington, D.C., October 1, 2021) U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. was on Good Morning America 3 to discuss his efforts to halt the Biden Administration from giving servicemembers a dishonorable discharge for refusing the COVID vaccine. The Senator said in part, “Right now 10-20% of our soldiers are not vaccinated – they are going to be separated and perhaps given a dishonorable discharge. If they are given a dishonorable discharge, then that soldier is going to lose their benefits, they are going to have problems getting a job in the future, and they’ll lose their benefits of getting a free education as well as healthcare…” You may click HERE or on the image below to watch this portion of Senator Marshall’s interview.

Senator Marshall also discussed the importance of seniors receiving their COVID booster shots as soon as possible saying in part, “I am absolutely certain that our pharmacists and health departments have an adequate supply of these [COVID booster shots]. We’ve been pushing the FDA for over two months now to approve it. So, it is happening. It’s all teed up. I have confidence that if folks call their own doctor, call their own pharmacist – if you are senior citizen that you should be able to get your third shot now.” You may click HERE or on the image below to watch this portion of Senator Marshall’s interview.

Background on COVID-19 Vaccine Dishonorable Discharge Prevention Act:

As a veteran, Senator Marshall recently introduced the COVID-19 Vaccine Dishonorable Discharge Prevention Act to prohibit the Department of Defense (DOD) from giving servicemembers a dishonorable discharge for choosing not to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. The House Armed Services Committee recently passed similar language led by Rep. Mark Green (R-TN) in an amendment to the FY2022 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). This legislation comes on the heels of President Biden mandating millions of Americans – including service members – to get vaccinated and the DOD issuing guidance stating that soldiers who refuse the vaccine will face “administrative or non-judicial punishment [under UCMJ] – to include relief of duties or discharge.”

Additionally, just last week, the White House announced opposition to the Senators’ legislation and in turn doubled down in their support to give service members a dishonorable discharge for refusing the COVID vaccine.

Dishonorably discharged U.S. service members surrender the following rights and benefits:

• Ownership of any sort of firearm or ammunition
• Access to the GI Bill for further education
• VA home loans
• VA medical benefits
• Military Funeral Honors
• Re-enlistment in another military branch

Background on Booster Shots:

Senator Marshall recently wrote an opinion piece for Kansas seniors highlighting the importance and science behind prioritizing them when it comes to COVID-19 booster shots. In part Senator Marshall said, “Seniors: talk to your doctor or pharmacist about getting your COVID-19 booster shot as soon as possible. With the Delta variant threatening efforts to return to normalcy and preliminary data suggesting COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness may decline after completing your initial shots, the focus on boosters has intensified, and I’ve been fighting to get seniors their COVID-19 booster shots for months… we can’t wait one more day to increase our seniors’ immunity to this horrible virus.” You may click HERE to read the piece in its entirety.

Senator Marshall recently applauded the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee unanimously approving COVID-19 booster shots for seniors and those at high risk. This announcement by the FDA follows a letter sent by Senator Marshall to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Becerra and FDA Acting Commissioner Janet Woodcock, urging them to prioritize research on the effectiveness of booster shots for vulnerable patients as well as a letter to President Joe Biden calling on him to make ALL seniors eligible for COVID-19 vaccine booster shots immediately.

Data out of Israel shows a COVID-19 booster shot improves immunity for senior citizens. According to the Wall Street Journal, “Israel was one of the first countries late last month to authorize a third Pfizer dose for the elderly who were fully vaccinated with the recommended two shots, after indications that vaccine protection against severe illness has waned. The booster shot reduced the risk of infection in the 60-plus age group by 86% and against severe infection by 92%, according to an observational study by Israel’s second largest healthcare provider, Maccabi Health Services, released Wednesday.”

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