Military family’s move abroad halted by Navy despite policy on vaccinations

Amanda Johnson, a Marine spouse and homeschooling mother of five, is speaking out after months of what she calls stonewalling by the U.S. military medical establishment. Her family’s upcoming move abroad has been put on hold because their children have not received all the recommended vaccinations, despite the Navy’s policy stating they’re not required.

In an Instagram post to her nearly 15,000 followers, Johnson expressed her frustration at the situation. One popular commentator summarized the family’s plight, calling out the irony of military families being stripped of their freedoms in exchange for their father’s sacrifice in protecting American freedoms.

The post has gone viral among military communities, drawing attention from other spouses, advocacy groups, and even congressional offices. Johnson explained that despite following all the regulations and guidelines, Navy Medical Jacksonville has denied their request to move to Peru, where vaccination requirements are not mandatory.

Official Navy policy under BUMEDINST 1300.2B clearly states that family members are not required to be immunized. Similarly, TRICARE, healthcare for uniformed service members, explicitly states that vaccination status is not reviewed as part of the enrollment screening process for overseas assignments. The Johnsons’ destination, Peru, does not require any vaccinations for entry or residence.

Despite this, the family has been stuck in limbo as Navy Medical Jacksonville continues to deny their request. Amanda’s husband, Marine Capt. Hunter Johnson, wrote a detailed prevention and medical readiness letter outlining the measures his family takes to maintain their children’s health. He emphasized that Peru has no vaccination requirements and that their children have minimal exposure to institutional illness risks.

The stress of the situation has deeply affected the family, with Amanda’s husband delaying his paternity leave to deal with the paperwork and stress of the situation. The family has already secured housing in Peru and booked flights, but the Navy’s refusal to clear them for travel has put their plans in jeopardy.

In response to the denial, the family has filed a congressional inquiry through the office of Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, and Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, has also reached out to offer assistance. Amanda Johnson hopes that her story will spark wider change and accountability within the Navy’s medical system.

She believes that vaccination status should not be a determining factor in a family’s ability to travel, especially when the host country does not require it. Amanda is calling for reform within the Navy’s medical establishment to ensure that families are not unfairly denied the opportunity to move abroad.

As the Johnson family continues to fight for their right to travel, Amanda remains hopeful that their story will lead to positive change and greater accountability within the Navy’s medical system.