DoD Says Annual Flu Vaccine No Longer Required for U.S. Military

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 been in place for 70 years.

"We're seizing this moment to discard any absurd, overreaching mandates that only weaken our war-fighting capabilities," Hegseth said in a video posted to his social media channels. "In this case, this includes the universal flu vaccine and the mandate behind it."

Hegseth said that under a new policy, soldiers would be able to take the vaccine if they believed it was in their best interest, billing it as an effort to "restore freedom and strength to our joint force."

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