US Military Ends Influenza Vaccine Mandate

‘The War Department continues to take decisive action to once again restore freedom and strength to our joint force,’ the secretary of war said.

A U.S. soldier receives an influenza vaccine at the Roseville Armory, Roseville, Calif., Nov. 18, 2023. U. S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Elizabeth Buck

The U.S. military will no longer require its service members to be vaccinated against influenza, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced on April 21.

“We’re seizing this moment to discard any absurd, overreaching mandates that only weaken our warfighting capabilities. In this case, this includes the universal flu vaccine and the mandate behind it,” Hegseth said in a video statement on X.