Pentagon reinstates flu vaccine mandate for recruits after Lackland outbreak

In April, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth lifted the decades‑old flu‑shot requirement for all U.S. service members, making the vaccine optional. Within weeks, an influenza outbreak erupted at Joint Base San Antonio‑Lackland, Texas, where basic‑training recruits live in close quarters. By late June the outbreak had sickened roughly 275‑300 trainees, hospitalized four, and resulted in one death that remains under investigation.

The low vaccination rate—about 40 % of new Air Force trainees received the shot after the policy change—prompted the Pentagon to grant service‑specific exemptions and to restore mandatory flu vaccinations for boot‑camp recruits. The Army, Navy and Air Force (as well as the NSA and Defense Health Agency) are now requiring the flu shot for new trainees, citing thorough risk assessments aimed at preserving operational readiness and force health. The reversal follows requests submitted by the services in May, approved by Under Secretary for Personnel and Readiness Anthony Tata on June 11, after the outbreak was already underway.

U.S. Representative Joaquin Castro, whose district includes Lackland, called the original policy “reckless.” Military officials emphasized that the decision is not directly tied to the outbreak but is based on health‑security considerations.