Flu Outbreak Tests New Pentagon Vaccine Policy

WaPo Board: Hegseth "Panders" To Anti-Vax Nutbags

The Washington Post editorial board writes: An influenza outbreak at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas has sickened almost 160 people in the past few weeks and might have even killed one person going through basic training. If it wasn’t already clear why Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s decision to eliminate the military’s universal flu vaccine mandate was an exceptionally bad idea, it should be now. When Hegseth announced the new vaccine policy,…

Vaccine Rollback Backfires at Lackland

A Texas Air Force base just reversed course and forced flu shots back on new recruits after nearly 160 trainees got sick and one died as questions swirl about what really went wrong. Story Snapshot Nearly 160 recruits at Lackland Air Force Base caught the flu in a tight basic training dorm environment. Lackland commanders have now reinstated a flu shot requirement for new trainees, despite the recent move away from mandates. A trainee’s death a…

Flu outbreak tests new Pentagon vaccine policy

A flu outbreak at a Texas Air Force Base is fueling debate over the Pentagon's decision to end the military's flu vaccine mandate. Former military health official Jose Sanchez explains the stakes.

Hegseth Dropped Military Flu Vaccine Mandate, Top Air Force Training Base Finds Out

Look, we know Top Gun was the Navy and the flu outbreak is at an Air Force base. Just roll with it, OK? Back in April, Fox News Drunk Pete Hegseth, who somehow won confirmation to be Defense Secretary, had a great idea to keep the administration’s lunatic base happy: He ended the Pentagon’s requirement that all service members get the flu vaccine. The move was modeled on the Trump administration’s decision last year to end mandatory COVID vaccin…

Flu outbreak sickens more than 160 trainees at Lackland Air Force Base after Pentagon drops vaccine mandate

More than 160 Air Force trainees at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio have contracted influenza in recent weeks, the first major outbreak since Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ended mandatory flu vaccinations for service members in April. One trainee died following a medical emergency, and military officials are investigating whether his death is connected to the outbreak. The situation at Lackland, home to the Air Force's Basic Military Tra…