More than 200 US Air Force recruits and personnel have reportedly fallen ill with influenza at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in Texas, raising concerns just weeks after the Pentagon ended its longstanding requirement for annual flu vaccinations.
According to NBC News, the outbreak has been limited to the base's Basic Military Training wing, where new recruits live and train in close quarters, creating conditions that can accelerate the spread of respiratory illnesses. An Air Force spokesperson confirmed to Texas Public Radio that at least 160 cases had been recorded over the past three weeks, while other media reports placed the total number of affected airmen and trainees at more than 200.
The outbreak follows a policy change announced in April by US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who ended the mandatory annual influenza vaccination requirement for active-duty service members, reservists, and civilian Defense Department personnel. Hegseth described the previous mandate as "absurd" and an example of government overreach.
The decision came amid a broader review of federal vaccination policies under the Trump administration. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has introduced several changes to vaccine oversight, arguing that the administration aims to improve transparency, address potential conflicts of interest, and rebuild public confidence in the nation's vaccination system.
Kennedy, who has long questioned aspects of US vaccine policy, has faced criticism from many public health experts. They argue that some of the administration's changes could weaken confidence in established immunization programs and increase the risk of preventable disease outbreaks.
Following the removal of the flu vaccine mandate, reports indicate that only around 40% of Air Force trainees chose to receive the influenza shot. Health officials believe the lower vaccination rate may have contributed to the rapid spread of the virus among recruits living in shared accommodations.
In response to the outbreak, the Air Force has reportedly reinstated mandatory influenza vaccinations for recruits at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland. Multiple US media outlets cited officials as saying the measure was introduced to contain the outbreak and prevent additional infections among military trainees.