Pentagon restores mandatory flu shots for all recruits as boot camp
outbreak sickens nearly 300
[June 25, 2026]
By KONSTANTIN TOROPIN and MIKE STOBBE
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon said Wednesday that boot camps for all
the military services are once again requiring the flu vaccination for
all recruits after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made the shot optional
for the military at the end of April.
The development, confirmed to The Associated Press by a Pentagon
official, comes amid a growing, weekslong, flu outbreak at the U.S. Air
Force's boot camp at Lackland Air Force Base that has sickened nearly
300 people. However, the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity
to discuss details not cleared for public release, maintained that the
permission to mandate the vaccinations was unrelated to the outbreak.
When Hegseth first announced the repeal of the flu vaccine mandate in
April, citing “medical autonomy” and religious freedom, he allowed the
services to ask for exceptions — or permission to keep the vaccine
mandatory — within 15 days of the rollout.
The Pentagon official explained that the decision on those exceptions
were being finalized earlier in June and the timing with the outbreak at
Lackland was just a coincidence. Only 40% of the new trainees moving
through the bootcamp at Lackland opted to receive the shot once it
became optional, a source familiar with the situation told the
Associated Press. The person spoke on the conditional of anonymity
because the information was not cleared for public release.
The base handles roughly 700 new recruits every week, according to Air
Force figures, and the close quarters environment has long been
recognized as being conducive to the spread of disease.
Recruits are exposed to high stress, low sleep, and close contact
conditions for weeks. They typically sleep together in large, open
rooms, shower communally, and conduct much of their instruction and
inspections in close contact.
The Lackland outbreak, which is now roughly three weeks long, has
produced 275 confirmed cases of the flu, Democratic Rep. Joaquin Castro
said in a social media post. Castro's district includes part of the base
on which the Air Force boot camp resides.
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 The new outbreak is “not unusually
concerning,” said Dr. Arnold Monto, a flu expert and emeritus
professor at the University of Michigan.
Flu is mainly a problem in the late fall and winter
– “flu season,” as it is known. But flu viruses routinely circulate
at lower levels in warmer months, too.
Concentrated flu outbreaks can occur in the spring and summer, but
tend to be seen mainly on military bases, cruise ships and other
settings where a lot of people are gathered together indoors, Monto
said.
If you want to prevent flu outbreaks, “it is especially necessary to
vaccinate when there are group settings,” Monto said.
In a statement to the media, Sean Parnell, the Pentagon’s top
spokesman, confirmed that exceptions were granted to the Army, Navy,
and Air Force as well as the National Security Agency and the
Defense Health Agency but wouldn’t offer further details.
However, both Army and Navy officials have said that they have also
asked for permission to make the shot mandatory for certain broad
groups that include troops deploying overseas, healthcare workers,
and child care workers.
Families Fighting Flu, an advocacy organization, cheered any change
to increase vaccinations.
“For decades, the military prioritized the health and safety of
troops and the public by requiring flu vaccine for recruits. It’s
unfortunate that more than 200 individuals at Lackland Air Force
Base in Texas became ill when that requirement was rescinded.” said
Michele Slafkosky, the organization’s executive director, in a
statement.
“This updated guidance from the military will save lives,” he added.
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