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Influenza Outbreak Infects Hundreds at Texas Air Force Base After Vaccine Mandate Ended
Hundreds of trainees at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland contracted influenza after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made annual flu vaccinations voluntary on April 21. The Pentagon granted exceptions on June 24 allowing several services to restore requirements in limited cases. A 25-year-old trainee died during the period.
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An influenza outbreak at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in Texas has infected hundreds of trainees after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ended the military's flu vaccine requirement on April 21. Newsweek reported that the policy made annual influenza vaccinations voluntary for active-duty personnel, reservists and Department of Defense civilian employees.
Hegseth stated at the time that mandatory vaccination for every service member in every circumstance was overly broad.
Vaccination rates among trainees at the base fell from nearly 100 percent to about 40 percent after the change, according to ABC News reporting cited by Newsweek. By mid-June military officials confirmed a localized outbreak among Air Force Basic Military Training participants.
On June 24 the Pentagon granted exceptions allowing the Air Force, Army, Navy, Defense Health Agency and National Security Agency to restore influenza vaccination requirements in certain circumstances.
The Air Force described the situation as a localized outbreak and said medical staff implemented measures to isolate and treat symptomatic trainees with antiviral medications including Tamiflu. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said the exceptions followed thorough risk assessments to protect readiness and safeguard at-risk populations.
Twenty-five-year-old trainee Keon McDaniel suffered a medical emergency during basic training and died days later.
Rep. Joaquin Castro stated on June 30 that the Air Force confirmed McDaniel died from the flu during the outbreak. The Air Force has said the cause remains under investigation. The military first introduced mandatory flu vaccination in 1945.
