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Annual flu vaccine no longer required for U.S. military, Hegseth says
Hegseth said the change restores medical autonomy and religious freedom after years of annual shot requirements for troops and civilian personnel.
- On Tuesday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the Pentagon is terminating its mandatory annual influenza vaccine requirement for all service members, effective immediately, aiming to "restore freedom and strength" to the joint force.
- Citing "medical autonomy" and religious freedom, Hegseth discarded the requirement, calling the previous mandate "overly broad" and "not rational" and pledging to end forcing troops to choose "between their conscience and their country."
- Military services have 15 days to submit requests for exceptions to Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Anthony Tata, allowing potential variations in vaccine requirements across branches.
- Chris Meekins, a former Trump administration official, warned the decision risks "preventable readiness losses" by increasing flu cases and hospitalizations, while military health experts emphasize annual vaccinations remain vital for protecting force health.
- This policy change mirrors the 2023 rescission of the COVID-19 vaccine mandate, when Congress and the Pentagon separated more than 8,400 service members for refusing vaccination; the Pentagon now allows previously discharged personnel to seek reinstatement until April 2027.
131 Articles
131 Articles
The Pentagon waives its vaccination requirements. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth sent a video message directly to the "American warriors" – and referred to religious backgrounds.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth ENDS Mandatory Flu Vaccine for Troops
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth is restoring medical autonomy and freedom to our troops! In a big move, he’s getting rid of the annual flu vaccine requirement for American soldiers. The policy change is effective immediately. Watch Secretary Hegseth’s video announcement here: The War Department is once again restoring freedom to our Joint Force. We are discarding the mandatory flu vaccine requirement, effective immediately. pic.twitter.com/9K5W8g…
‘Major Victory’: Military Ends Flu Vaccine Mandate For All Service Members - Armed Forces Press
The U.S. military today ended its flu vaccine mandate for active-duty and reserve service members and civilian personnel, the U.S. Department of War announced today. Pam Long, director of the Children’s Health Defense Military Chapter, said that up until this week, service members were still being punished for refusing the vaccine. She called the policy change a “major victory” for individual liberty. by Michael Nevradakis, Ph.D. The U.S. milit…
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