Additional Coverage:
- Nasty flu outbreak surges through Air Force Base after Hegseth relaxes vaccine rules (themirror.com)
Pete Hegseth is now confronting the fallout from a policy he championed that eliminated mandatory flu vaccinations for military personnel, following a significant flu outbreak at a U.S. Air Force base.
The outbreak struck Joint Base San Antonio in Texas, where at least 222 recruits contracted the flu. Only about 40 percent of new trainees had received the flu vaccine at the time- a stark drop from the nearly 100 percent vaccination rate seen in previous years, according to reports.
In April, Defense Secretary Hegseth overturned a long-standing requirement dating back to 1945 that mandated annual flu shots for service members. This change was part of a series of broad adjustments he has implemented since assuming his role.
Sources tell ABC News that the Army, Navy, and Air Force have quietly reversed course, reinstating flu shot mandates for basic trainees. The Pentagon has reportedly granted formal exemptions to Hegseth’s relaxed vaccination policy to enable this shift.
Since joining the Trump administration, Hegseth has pushed for easing various military regulations, including efforts aimed at scaling back Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs. His approach to military discipline has been similarly strict-he once delivered a firm directive banning beards and emphasizing a professional appearance within the ranks.
Yet, the decision to loosen vaccine requirements has had immediate and serious consequences. ABC News noted that among the 222 infected recruits, four required hospitalization.
Just a week earlier, there were 159 cases and two hospitalizations, underscoring a rapid rise in infections. Investigations are ongoing into the death of one recruit, though any connection to the outbreak has not been confirmed.
When announcing the change in vaccine policy, Hegseth framed it as a matter of personal choice, stating, “If you, an American warrior entrusted to defend this nation, believe that the flu vaccine is in your best interest, then you are free to take it; you should. But we will not force you.”
Hegseth’s opposition to vaccine mandates extends beyond the flu shot. In March, he granted service members who had been dismissed for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine an additional year to rejoin the military.
As the military grapples with these health challenges, the recent outbreak highlights the real risks associated with rolling back vaccination requirements.