Department of War Rolls Back Some Influenza Vaccination Requirements

The changes apply to reservists. Active-duty members are still required to receive an annual influenza shot or obtain an exemption.
Department of War Rolls Back Some Influenza Vaccination Requirements
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth at the Pentagon in Arlington, Va., on Sept. 9, 2025. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
Zachary Stieber
Zachary Stieber
Senior Reporter
|Updated:
0:00

The Department of War has changed its influenza vaccination requirements for reservists, and is no longer paying some reservists and National Guard members to receive the shot, a Pentagon official confirmed on Sept. 25.

Reservists do not need to receive an influenza vaccine unless they’re activated for at least 30 consecutive days, according to Pentagon immunization requirements released earlier in the year, but not reported by any news outlets until this week.
Zachary Stieber
Zachary Stieber
Senior Reporter
Zachary Stieber is a senior reporter for The Epoch Times based in Maryland. He covers U.S. and world news. Contact Zachary at [email protected]
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