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Pentagon Reinstates Mandatory Flu Shots After Outbreak

6/26/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Pentagon reinstated mandatory flu shots for Army, Navy and Air Force basic trainees after a Lackland Air Force Base outbreak.
The outbreak grew from 160 to 275 cases by June 25, causing four hospitalizations and one death under investigation.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made flu shots optional in April, a move after which about 40 percent of new Air Force trainees chose vaccination, according to a New York Times report.

History

Historical Context

In 2009 the Department of Defense made flu vaccination mandatory for all active-duty personnel as H1N1 spread, with the agency reporting 104 confirmed cases among service members and families by May 7. The CDC’s annual flu-shot recommendation and the military’s long-standing requirement for yearly inoculation provide the precedent for today’s return to compulsory shots for Army, Navy and Air Force trainees.

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Story summary

Pentagon reinstated mandatory flu shots for Army, Navy and Air Force basic trainees after a Lackland Air Force Base outbreak.
The outbreak grew from 160 to 275 cases by June 25, causing four hospitalizations and one death under investigation.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made flu shots optional in April, a move after which about 40 percent of new Air Force trainees chose vaccination, according to a New York Times report.

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