Military backtracks on nonmandatory flu vaccine

Defense officials on Monday told WORLD that they planned to reestablish influenza vaccine requirements for military recruits after a flu outbreak at a Texas air base. At least 275 cases had been confirmed at the Air Force Lackland Base in San Antonio, Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, reported last week. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth revised the military’s vaccine policy in April and made flu vaccines optional for service members. The Pentagon received backlash from several Democratic lawmakers who linked the flu outbreak to the new policy, including Reps. Jason Crow of Colorado and Mike Levin of California.

What has the Pentagon said? Chief spokesman Sean Parnell told WORLD in a Monday statement that officials enacted exceptions to the voluntary flu policy after a comprehensive risk assessment. The Army, Navy, Air Force, National Security Agency, and Defense Health Agency all received exceptions to make flu shots mandatory, Parnell said in a statement. Exceptions to the optional vaccine policy were designed to maximize operational readiness and lethality, while protecting at-risk populations, he added. The department remained committed to the health and readiness of both soldiers and civilian personnel, Parnell said.