The VA believes at least 3.5 million members of the military have been exposed to the poisonous fumes in America’s global wars on terror, and maintains a registry the Cancelinos didn’t knew existed.
Palmer has seen the damage COVID can cause in someone with 9/11-related illnesses.
Palmer said a friend who was part of the NYPD Emergency Services Unit is still recovering after his battle with COVID-19 that landed him on a ventilator.
“Don’t you think these guys have been through enough already?” Palmer said. “All we do is fight for something we shouldn’t have to fight for.”
9/11 illnesses up COVID risk factors
Cancer and respiratory ailments are the most common illnesses among the 9/11 community, which includes first responders who were part of the rescue and recovery missions involving the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center, Pentagon and Shanksville, Pennsylvania. The community at risk for illness from toxic exposure also includes the office workers, students and residents who were in Lower Manhattan that day and in the weeks after.
On Friday, the Pentagon signed a memo approving COVID-19 vaccination efforts at Guantanamo Bay
Al Qaeda terrorists including 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed are among the detainees at Gitmo
The terrorists were set to receive their first dose of the in-demand vaccines as early as next Monday
The move caused widespread outrage, with 9/11 first responders saying the government was putting terrorists ahead of ordinary US citizens
Tom Von Essen, who was city Fire Commissioner during 9/11, said: You can t make this up. The ridiculousness of what we get from our government
On Saturday, the Pentagon announced they were pausing the plan in light of the backlash