Air Force flu outbreak hits Texas base after vaccine mandate lifted

Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland recorded 275 flu cases and four hospitalizations in less than three weeks after Pete Hegseth ended the military’s annual influenza mandate in April.

Hegseth announced on April 21 that annual influenza vaccines would be voluntary for all active and reserve service members and War Department civilian personnel, calling the old policy “overly broad and not rational” and saying troops would not be forced to take the shot. The services could still seek exceptions, and they did. By late June, the Army, Navy and Air Force were again requiring flu shots for basic trainees.

At Lackland, the Air Force confirmed that symptomatic trainees were being isolated, treated and monitored, including with antiviral medications such as Tamiflu. By June 18, at least 159 cases and two hospitalizations had been recorded. By June 19, more than 160 troops had been sickened, and Rep. Joaquin Castro said the tally had reached 222.

The outbreak was localized over roughly three weeks. Only about 40% of new Air Force trainees at Joint Base San Antonio had been vaccinated when the outbreak began in early June. Basic Military Training puts recruits in tight formations where they live, train and sleep.

The military’s flu-shot requirement dates back to 1945. An Armed Forces Health Surveillance Division report says recruits have long been vulnerable to acute respiratory disease and influenza-like illness because of the physical, environmental and psychological stress of training. The same report says the highest cumulative hospitalization rate among active-duty service members is in those 25 and younger.

The outbreak came shortly after the death of recruit Keon McDaniel, who was in his sixth week of Basic Military Training when he died on June 12. His cause of death remains under investigation, and it is not yet clear whether his death was tied to the flu outbreak. Castro, whose district includes Lackland, called Hegseth’s decision reckless and said it threatened military readiness. The Army is now preparing to widen flu-vaccine requirements in the coming weeks to deploying troops, first responders, child care workers, health care personnel, prison staff and soldiers in certain large-scale exercises.