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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
World
George Chidi

US military service members will no longer be required to get annual flu shot

a man in a suit speaks into a microphone
Pete Hegseth speaks to members of the media during a press briefing at the Pentagon on 16 April 2026 in Washington DC. Photograph: Kevin Wolf/AP

Members of the US armed services will no longer be required to have an annual flu vaccination shot under a new policy announced Tuesday by Pete Hegseth, the US defense secretary.

In a video statement posted to social media, Hegseth described the mandate as “overly broad” and “not rational” and the decision to drop the vaccine requirement as “seizing this moment to discard any absurd overreaching mandates that only weaken our war fighting capabilities”.

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