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April 21, 2026
War Secretary Hegseth Ends Military Flu Vaccine Mandate
- War Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that the flu vaccine is now optional for all military personnel, citing medical autonomy and religious freedom.
- Hegseth described previous mandates as 'overly broad' and stated that service members should not be forced to vaccinate.
- The new policy allows military services to request to keep the flu vaccine requirement for 15 days after the announcement.
11 Sources
- Hegseth announces end to military flu vaccine requirementApr 21, 2026 at 2:33 PM · Fox News
- US military service members will no longer be required to get annual flu shotApr 21, 2026 at 2:54 PM · The Guardian
- Pete Hegseth scraps mandatory flu shots for U.S. service membersApr 21, 2026 at 3:06 PM · CBS News
- Hegseth ends mandatory flu vaccine for service membersApr 21, 2026 at 3:29 PM · The Hill
- Hegseth ends mandatory flu vaccine for service membersApr 21, 2026 at 3:29 PM · The Hill
- Pentagon makes flu shot optional for troops, rescinding requirementApr 21, 2026 at 4:43 PM · CNN
- Flu vaccine no longer mandated for US troops, Hegseth saysApr 21, 2026 at 4:50 PM · ABC News
- Pentagon to Stop Requiring Members of Military Get Flu VaccinesApr 21, 2026 at 5:03 PM · NYT
- Hegseth ends mandatory flu vaccine for US military, says shot is now optionalApr 21, 2026 at 5:15 PM · ABC News
- Pete Hegseth says the U.S. military will no longer require flu shotsApr 21, 2026 at 5:39 PM · NBC
- GOP Armed Services chair warns ending mandatory military flu shots 'a mistake'Apr 21, 2026 at 7:14 PM · The Hill