Pentagon Restores Mandatory Flu Shots After Recruit Outbreak
Following a weekslong flu outbreak that sickened nearly 300 people at the U.S. Air Force’s boot camp at Lackland Air Force Base, all military services have reinstated the flu vaccination requirement for recruits. This decision came after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had previously made the shot optional for the military in late April, citing “medical autonomy.” While the Pentagon maintains the timing of the reinstatement is coincidental to the outbreak, the close-quarters environment of boot camps is recognized as conducive to disease spread, with only 40% of new trainees at Lackland opting for the vaccine when it was optional. This move is being praised by advocacy groups as a measure that will enhance troop health and public safety.
John Q. Hosedrinker