The military traded its flu vaccine mandate for ‘medical freedom’ – an outbreak quickly followed

Two months after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made the flu vaccine optional in the military, an outbreak has led several branches of the military to make it mandatory again.

By: Katrine L. Wallace, University of Illinois Chicago, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: June 24, 2026

Words: 1,238

Last Updated: 4 weeks ago

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By Katrine L. Wallace, University of Illinois Chicago

Amid a worsening flu outbreak at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, the U.S. Air Force, Army and Navy are once again requiring new recruits to get vaccinated against the influenza virus, according to ABC News. The move comes two months after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth rescinded the U.S. military’s mandate that they do so.

As of June 23, 2026, at least …

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