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June 24, 2026
Military Reinstates Flu Vaccine Requirement Amid Outbreak at Lackland Air Force Base
- The flu vaccine requirement for recruits has been reinstated across all military branches due to a flu outbreak that has infected 275 individuals at Lackland Air Force Base.
- This decision comes after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's earlier move to make the flu vaccine voluntary, which raised concerns about troop health.
- Mitigation measures are being implemented at Lackland, including monitoring exposed trainees and administering antiviral medications to those showing symptoms.
2 Sources
- Hegseth’s Air Force quietly brings back flu vaccine rule for recruits after more than 200 fall sick at baseJun 24, 2026 at 2:37 PM · Independent
- Military requiring flu vaccines for recruits as Air Force base deals with outbreakJun 25, 2026 at 1:22 AM · CBS News