Story perspectives

Defense Secretary Halts Mandatory Flu Shots, Experts Warn Outbreak Risk

4/25/2026

Summary

Story summary

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ended mandatory annual flu vaccination for active-duty service members.
Critics say the flu-shot rollback and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s 600 percent drug-price claim replace evidence with ideology.
Former CDC official Dr. Demetre Daskalakis warned the actions replace science with ideology and endanger health.
Public-health experts warned that dropping the flu-shot requirement could boost influenza spread in barracks, ships and submarines, harming readiness.

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Story summary

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ended mandatory annual flu vaccination for active-duty service members.
Critics say the flu-shot rollback and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s 600 percent drug-price claim replace evidence with ideology.
Former CDC official Dr. Demetre Daskalakis warned the actions replace science with ideology and endanger health.
Public-health experts warned that dropping the flu-shot requirement could boost influenza spread in barracks, ships and submarines, harming readiness.