Starting on June 24, the Pentagon is again requiring all new recruits in all branches of the military to receive the flu vaccination. The abrupt reversal of policy comes after a flu outbreak at Lackland Air Force Base near San Antonio, Texas resulted in 275 confirmed flu cases and four hospitalizations of new recruits. Likewise there are reports of small outbreaks at other military training facilities.
This policy reversal also comes about two months after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s April 21 announcement that all vaccines would no longer be required for military personnel. After Hegseth made vaccinations optional, only 40% of the recruits were vaccinated at the Lackland base. Military basic training usually requires new recruits to eat in communal settings and sleep in crowded dormitories, making them especially vulnerable to respiratory illnesses.
Many military leaders disagreed with the Hegseth policy and worked to maintain mandatory vaccinations, according to the New York Times. The Marines ignored the Hegseth policy and continued to vaccinate all personnel. The U.S. military has been requiring flu vaccinations since 1945.
