The Pentagon has reinstated mandatory flu vaccinations for all military recruits, reversing an earlier decision that had made the shot optional. The reversal comes as nearly 300 individuals have been sickened in a prolonged flu outbreak at the U.S. Air Force's boot camp at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas.
A Pentagon official confirmed the renewed mandate, stating that permission to require the vaccinations was granted to the Army, Navy, Air Force, National Security Agency, and Defense Health Agency. While the timing coincides with the Lackland outbreak, the official maintained that the decision-making process for mandating the vaccine was finalized earlier in June and was unrelated to the current illness surge.
In late April, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had made the flu vaccine optional for the military, citing principles of "medical autonomy" and religious freedom. The services were given 15 days to request exceptions to maintain a mandatory vaccination policy. The Lackland outbreak, which has been ongoing for approximately three weeks, has resulted in 275 confirmed cases of the flu, according to information shared by Rep. Joaquin Castro, whose district includes part of the base.
Close-quarters training environments, common in military boot camps, are recognized as conducive to the spread of diseases. Recruits at Lackland undergo weeks of high stress, limited sleep, and constant close contact, sleeping in large open rooms and conducting much of their training and inspections in proximity to one another. The base processes about 700 new recruits weekly.
Once the flu shot became optional at Lackland, only about 40% of new trainees opted to receive it, according to a source familiar with the situation. Army and Navy officials have indicated they also sought permission to mandate the vaccine for specific groups, including troops deploying overseas, healthcare workers, and child care providers.
Dr. Arnold Monto, a flu expert and professor emeritus at the University of Michigan, noted that while flu is typically a seasonal illness, viruses can circulate at lower levels during warmer months. He added that concentrated outbreaks can occur in settings with large numbers of people gathered indoors, such as military bases and cruise ships, emphasizing that vaccination is particularly important in such group settings to prevent outbreaks.
Advocacy group Families Fighting Flu welcomed the updated guidance. "For decades, the military prioritized the health and safety of troops and the public by requiring flu vaccine for recruits. It’s unfortunate that more than 200 individuals at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas became ill when that requirement was rescinded," said Michele Slafkosky, the organization’s executive director. "This updated guidance from the military will save lives."