Military flu outbreak grows in Texas after vaccine shot requirement is eliminated

Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank 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 inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleVice President J.D. Vance, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, and U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker, attend a meeting with President Donald Trump and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte in the Oval Office of the White House on June 24 (Getty)A flu outbreak at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas has resulted in nearly 300 confirmed cases, with Representative Joaquin Castro reporting the situation is "getting worse." The increase in flu cases follows Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's April decision to eliminate a mandatory flu vaccine policy for military personnel. After the vaccine mandate was lifted, only 40 percent of trainees at Lackland chose to receive the flu vaccine, according to sources. Four individuals have been hospitalized due to the outbreak, and the death of one recruit is currently under investigation, though its link to the flu is unconfirmed. The Pentagon has announced that mandatory flu vaccinations for recruits at boot camps will be reinstated, with officials stating the decision is unrelated to the current outbreak. In fullFlu outbreak at Texas Air Force base nears 300 cases amid change to vaccine policy by HegsethThank 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

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