Additional Coverage:
- US Air Force requested to bring back mandatory flu shots weeks before basic training outbreak (cnn.com)
A flu outbreak at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas has intensified among basic training recruits after a recent pause and subsequent reinstatement of the mandatory flu vaccination policy, according to defense officials and local representatives.
The outbreak, which began earlier this month, has affected at least 275 trainees, said Democratic Congressman Joaquin Castro of Texas, whose district includes Lackland. The Air Force also confirmed that a recruit died on June 16 following a medical emergency, though it remains unclear if the death was related to the flu.
The situation unfolded after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued an April directive eliminating the mandatory flu shot requirement for all U.S. military personnel, allowing service members to decline the vaccine. This led to approximately 60% of previously unvaccinated recruits at Lackland opting out during the policy gap.
While Hegseth’s order did permit military branches to request exemptions for certain groups, the process for reinstating the vaccine mandate took over a month. The Air Force submitted its request on May 5 to reinstate the flu shot requirement for basic trainees, but approval only came on June 11. By that time, the flu outbreak was already spreading rapidly among the recruits.
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell stated that exceptions to vaccination policies have been granted to protect operational readiness and safeguard vulnerable populations. The delay in reinstating the mandate has drawn criticism from health experts and former Pentagon officials who highlight the risks of abruptly changing health policies without adequate coordination.
Dr. Terry Adirim, a physician and former senior Defense Department health official, emphasized that such policy changes typically involve extensive consultation to ensure medical advice is properly integrated. She warned that the sudden rollback of the vaccine requirement disrupted this process, potentially compromising force protection and national security.
The flu vaccine mandate was restored at Lackland within weeks after approval, with unvaccinated trainees receiving shots. However, the outbreak’s momentum underscores the challenges posed by rapid policy shifts amid ongoing public health concerns in military training environments.