Air Force Reimposes Flu Shots at Lackland After 159 Cases, Reversing Hegseth Policy
Updated
Updated · abcnews.com · Jun 18
Air Force Reimposes Flu Shots at Lackland After 159 Cases, Reversing Hegseth Policy
3 articles · Updated · abcnews.com · Jun 18
Summary
Nearly 160 Air Force trainees at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland have been sickened in a flu outbreak, prompting the service to require flu shots again for recruits after making them optional in April.
Vaccination among recruits fell to about 40% after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ended the military-wide mandate; before that, uptake had been nearly 100%, according to sources.
Two trainees were hospitalized in the outbreak, and the Air Force said it has isolated symptomatic recruits, monitored close contacts and treated cases with antivirals including Tamiflu.
The Pentagon said it has granted service-specific exceptions allowing the Army, Navy, Air Force, NSA and DHA to require shots where risk assessments show they are needed for readiness and vulnerable populations.
Young recruits are among the military members most vulnerable to severe influenza, and public health specialists have warned that dropping preventive vaccination could drive more serious cases in future flu seasons.