Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.AllNewsSportCultureLifestyle(AFP/Getty)A flu outbreak at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio has reportedly sickened nearly 160 troops, prompting the Air Force to temporarily reinstate mandatory flu shots for recruits there. This outbreak occurs less than two months after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the Pentagon was canceling the military's requirement for yearly flu vaccinations. Hegseth had previously criticized the mandatory flu and COVID shots as "absurd, overreaching mandates" that he believed weakened military capabilities. A basic military trainee, Keon McDaniel, died earlier in the week after experiencing a "medical emergency" at the base, though the cause is under investigation and it is unclear if it was flu-related. Despite the outbreak, the Pentagon defended its new policy, stating decisions were based on thorough risk assessments, while the administration has elevated vaccine skeptics to top positions. In fullTexas Air Force base hit with flu outbreak infecting nearly 160 troops after Hegseth lifts vaccine requirement: reportThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in

The basic training facility for the Air Force in San Antonio, Texas, is experiencing a flu outbreak with at least 159 cases, two sources told ABC News.

Dozens of service members at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas have fallen ill with the flu in the weeks since Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth rescinded the vaccine mandate, sources…

Reports say Texas recruits ill from outbreak, which comes weeks after defense secretary made flu vaccine optional

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the Pentagon was canceling what he called the ‘absurd’ requirement to get a yearly flu shot

Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.AllNewsSportCultureLifestyle(AFP/Getty)A flu outbreak at Lackland Air…

Op een basis van de Amerikaanse luchtmacht is de griep uitgebroken. Bijna 160 militairen zijn ziek geworden, melden Amerikaanse media. De uitbraak volgde nog geen twee maanden…

An influenza outbreak has reportedly sickened more than 150 military recruits at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas, raising concerns over health policy changes and crowded training…

Epidemia influenzale tra i militari della base aerea. Solo pochi mesi prima il ministro novax aveva abolito l’obbligo del siero

Secretário de Defesa dos EUA tornou vacinação contra gripe opcional em abril, citando liberdade religiosa

A major flu outbreak has hit Lackland Air Force Base in Texas, less than two months after Pete Hegseth dropped the requirement for flu vaccines.

The outbreak at Lackland Air Force Base has reportedly hospitalized two recruits, though the number of cases and hospitalizations may be higher.

Hegseth abolisce l'obbligo vaccinale ad aprile, e ora 160 reclute si ammalano di influenza in Texas. Una morte sotto indagine

The number of sickened troops could be over 200, according to a source at the base.

Influenza, stop all'obbligo vaccinale: scoppia epidemia in una base militare Usa. L'Air Force fa marcia indietro e permette di imporre la vaccinazione.