At least 159 recruits at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, have been sickened in an influenza outbreak that comes weeks after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ended mandatory flu vaccination for U.S. troops, according to reports from the New York Times and ABC News.
Lackland is part of Joint Base San Antonio, a 70,000-member installation sometimes called Military City. Recruits there live in communal settings, eating together and sleeping in dormitories — conditions that infectious disease specialists say are vulnerable to outbreaks of airborne illness.
After Hegseth made the flu vaccine optional in April, only about 40% of recruits chose to be vaccinated, Air Force officials told the New York Times. Nationwide, about 46% of adults were vaccinated against influenza during the 2025-26 cold season, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In an April social media video announcing the policy change, Hegseth said the Pentagon was “seizing this moment to discard any absurd overreaching mandates that only weaken our war fighting capabilities.” He added: “In this case that includes the universal flu vaccine and the mandate behind it.” Hegseth also said, “Your body, your faith and your convictions are not negotiable.”
Air Force officials have since ordered recruits at Lackland to be vaccinated against the flu as part of containment efforts, according to the Times.
It is not clear whether the recent death of a basic military trainee is related to the outbreak. Keon McDaniel died on June 16 after experiencing what the Air Force described as a “medical emergency.” The cause is under investigation, according to an Air Force press release.
A Pentagon spokesperson directed the Guardian to the Air Force press office, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment.