Catherine Herridge@C__Herridge
BREAKING: Former CDC Director Robert Redfield Slams Biden-Era Military COVID Vaccine Mandate as Having “No Scientific Justification”
This week on Straight to the Point, I sat down with former CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield and Brianne Dressen — a vaccine injury advocate who was a clinical trial volunteer that developed lifelong neuropathy within one hour of taking the COVID-19 vaccine. Redfield exclusively reveals that he believes the Biden-era military mandates had “no scientific justification...and was an emotional decision," while noting institutional reluctance to acknowledge harms to young service members with strong immune systems. Dressen discusses the disproportionate toll the vaccine took on young service members, including @StancikKaroline who we previously interviewed. This wide ranging interview digs deep on the vaccine fallout for our nation's service members.
@thelatmg @latimesstudios_
01:04 Brianne Dressen: Her Advocacy for Covid Vaccine Injured is Personal @React19org
01:57 An “Inordinate Number” of Young Vaccine Injured Service Members
02:30 Former CDC Director Robert Redfield: Military COVID Vaccine Mandate “No Scientific Justification Whatsoever”
03:10 Most Severe Response In Young, With Robust Immune Systems
04:02 Soldier Karoline Stancik’s Heart Condition “Service Connected” To Covid Vaccine
05:01 Rare for Covid Vaccine Injuries to be Designated “In Line of Duty”
06:52 Drew’s Story: COVID Vaccine Injury And Whole Body Paralysis (Guillain-Barré Syndrome)
08:30 Service Members Spend Down Savings, Retirement, And Mortgage Homes For Treatments
09:30 Dressen: Vaccine Injury Compensation Has a “98.5 %” Rejection Rate
12:50 Dressen: Service Members Report VA Experience “Abysmal Failure,” Reluctance to Acknowledge COVID Vaccine Injury
15:22 Is Trump Administration Taking Different Approach to COVID Vaccine Injury: More Dialogue
16:55 Bressen: I Was A “True Blue” Democrat, After COVID Shot “My Life Changed Forever”
18:20 Karoline Stancik Update
19:04 Update @drewoutstanding
In response to our questions, a VA spokesperson said “Between December 2020 and December 2025, 53 cases of myocarditis were identified among over 5.6 million VHA-enrolled Veterans who received an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. Veterans are eligible for service connection if myocarditis develops during active duty…”
A Department of War official said DoW “is making reinstatement available to all members of the military (active and reserve components) who were discharged solely for refusing to receive the COVID-19 vaccine and who request to be reinstated. The Department has reached out to the 8,700 Service members who were unjustly separated to apologize, offer information on reinstatement, and encourage them to rejoin the military.”
“As of May 2026, more than 200 former Service members who were discharged under the now-rescinded COVID-19 vaccination mandate have been reinstated or re-accessed. The Services are actively tracking more than 800 additional former Service members who have expressed interest in rejoining the military.”
Asked about the high rejection rate, the Countermeasures Injury Compensation Program did not respond.
