Washington — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Tuesday that the Department of Defense will no longer mandate U.S. service members to receive the flu shot each year. In a video posted to X, ...

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says the U.S. military will no longer mandate the flu vaccine for American troops. He cited “medical autonomy” and religious freedom.

Doctors break down why removing the flu vaccine requirement for U.S. troops is concerning — and "particularly weird." ...

On Tuesday, April 22, 2026, the Pentagon ended its decades-long requirement that all U.S. military personnel receive an annual flu vaccine. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that the U.S.

(The Hill) – The Pentagon is ending mandatory flu vaccines for service members, phrasing the change as giving troops “medical autonomy” and “freedom to express their religious convictions,” Defense ...

The military will no longer require U.S. troops to receive the annual flu vaccine, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Tuesday, rolling back what he described as an “overly broad” mandate that had ...

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recently announced that the Department of Defense will no longer mandate U.S. service members receive an annual flu shot. In a video posted to X, Hegseth said troops ...

Secretary Pete Hegseth ended the mandatory flu vaccine for U.S. Armed Forces. Historically, disease has been a significant threat to military readiness, with flu killing almost as many U.S. soldiers ...

For the first time in almost 80 years, U.S. service members will no longer be mandated to receive the annual influenza vaccine. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the change on April 22, 2026.

(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.) Katrine L. Wallace, University of Illinois Chicago (THE CONVERSATION) For the first ...