Hegseth Scraps Mandatory Flu Shots for US Troops
The US Department of Defense will no longer require members of the armed forces to receive the flu vaccine, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has announced.
"We're seizing this moment to discard any absurd, overreaching mandates that only weaken our warfighting capabilities", Hegseth said in a video posted on X. He called the blanket flu vaccination mandate "overly broad and not rational".
The decision comes as President Donald Trump's administration moves to curb federal vaccination recommendations, including those for children. Soldiers will now have the option to be vaccinated voluntarily.
The military eliminated the mandatory COVID-19 vaccination in 2023. That requirement had been introduced in 2021 by former President Joe Biden, and thousands of soldiers were discharged for refusing to comply.
The US armed forces have approximately 1.3 million active members and over 750,000 members of the National Guard and Reserves.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends flu vaccination for anyone over six months of age.