The Pentagon reinstated its flu vaccine requirement for all military recruits on June 25, 2026, after a flu outbreak at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in Texas affected nearly 300 individuals. This decision reverses a policy implemented by War Secretary Pete Hegseth just two months prior, which had made flu vaccinations optional for service members.
The War Department confirmed that all military boot camps will now require flu shots for incoming recruits, as the influenza outbreak at the base has led to approximately 275 confirmed cases. A Pentagon official stated that the renewed requirement was not directly in response to the outbreak but rather the result of an exemption process initiated after Hegseth's April policy change.
Hegseth had characterized the previous mandate as a matter of medical autonomy and religious freedom, allowing military services to seek exemptions for specific groups. Following the outbreak, the Air Force has started vaccinating affected recruits and will mandate vaccinations for all new arrivals. The Army is also planning to expand mandatory flu vaccinations to additional high-risk groups, including troops deploying overseas and healthcare workers.
Additionally, a recent incident at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland involved the death of an Air Force trainee, Keon McDaniel, during basic training, with the cause of death currently under investigation.