- The Defense Department has ended the mandatory yearly flu shot requirement for American service members.
- Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth stated the policy aims to "restore freedom and strength" to the military, citing the Biden administration's Covid-19 policies as a reason for ditching "absurd, overreaching mandates."
- Hegseth emphasized that while service members "should" receive the flu vaccine, the Pentagon will not "force" them, framing it as a matter of "simple medical autonomy" and conscience.
- Historically, the military has mandated vaccinations since 1777, with influenza causing significant casualties, such as 45,000 American soldiers during World War I.
- This policy change aligns with a broader movement since the 2025 Trump administration to undermine federal vaccine policies, which conservative activists have increasingly criticized as overreach.
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