18 jun 2026
Nearly 160 sick with flu at US air force base after Hegseth ends mandatory vaccines
Reports say Texas recruits ill from outbreak, which comes weeks after defense secretary made flu vaccine optional An influenza outbreak has reportedly sickened more than 150 recruits in training at Lackland air force base in San Antonio, Texas. The outbreak comes just weeks after the defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, ended mandatory flu vaccination for the military, citing the need for bodily autonomy for servicemembers.
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An influenza outbreak that started in late May has left nearly 160 Air Force recruits sick, with some hospitalized. An Air Force spokesperson told Task & Purpose that the 37th Training Wing has been dealing with a “localized influenza outbreak among trainees at Basic Military Training” at Lackland Air Force Base. The flu outbreak has been going on for three weeks, the Air Force said, although training at the base has not been interrupted.
task & purpose
coverage · 2 outlets
- 18:00task & purpose
Flu outbreak leaves nearly 160 Air Force trainees sick
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