An outbreak of a viral flu has sickened at least 160 troops and led to the death of one trainee at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas, less than two months after the military eliminated its annual flu vaccination requirement. The illness struck a training wing where hundreds of service members live and work in close proximity.
The trainee, identified as Keon McDaniel, died earlier this week after experiencing a medical emergency during his sixth week of basic training. The Air Force stated that his death is under investigation and did not immediately confirm a link to the flu outbreak. McDaniel was taken to Brooke Army Medical Center where he passed away.
Representative Joaquin Castro (D-Texas) criticized the decision to end the flu vaccine mandate, stating that an outbreak was an anticipated consequence. "After Secretary Hegseth scrapped the military’s flu vaccine mandate, it was only a matter of time before an outbreak occurred," Castro said in a statement. "It was a reckless decision that put troops in harm’s way and undermined our military readiness." He added that his office has requested a full accounting of the outbreak and an investigation into the trainee's death, emphasizing that public health policies should be guided by science.
Air Force officials described the recent outbreak as "localized" to the training wing and indicated that medical personnel are monitoring affected individuals and providing antiviral medication. Reports suggest that all trainees at the base are now being required to receive the flu shot to curb the spread of the virus. Since the policy change, approximately 40 percent of trainees have opted to receive the flu vaccine, according to an Air Force official.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced in April that troops would no longer be required to get the annual flu shot, ending a policy that had been in place since the 1950s. Hegseth stated at the time that his department was "restoring freedom" to the forces, contrasting the decision with policies under the Biden administration that he claimed were an "unrelenting war on our warriors" and infringed upon "medical autonomy and the freedom to express their religious convictions."
The 37th Training Wing at Lackland Air Force Base trains more than 37,000 individuals annually. The Pentagon's decision to end the flu vaccine requirement drew criticism earlier this year. Senator John Wicker (R-Mississippi), chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, called the move a "mistake," noting the flu vaccine's safety record and distinguishing it from what he characterized as "largely experimental" COVID-19 vaccines. He recalled taking the flu shot annually during his service and its contribution to a healthier armed forces.
This policy change followed a 2023 update that exempted reservists from the annual flu shot. The military previously enforced a COVID-19 vaccine mandate, which resulted in the separation of over 8,000 service members for non-compliance.