Washington– Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Tuesday that the U.S. military will no longer require all U.S. troops to get the flu vaccine, citing “medical independence” and religious freedom.
“The idea that the flu vaccine should be mandatory for every service member, everywhere, in all circumstances and at all times is too broad and irrational,” Hegseth said in a video posted on social media.
US military service members are free to get the flu shot, but they won’t have to “because your body, your faith and your convictions are non-negotiable,” he said.
Hegseth’s directive allows the military services to request that vaccine requirements remain in place, according to a memorandum enacting the policy posted online. It says services have 15 days to submit these requests.
The history of vaccination programs in the US military dates back to the American Revolution. But it became a contentious political issue during the coronavirus pandemic, when more than 8,400 soldiers were forced out of the military for refusing to comply with the 2021 mandate for the COVID-19 vaccine. Thousands more sought religious and medical exemptions.
Congress approved Cancel authorizationWhich the Pentagon Dropped in January 2023After nearly 99% of active-duty forces in the Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps have received the vaccine, and 98% of military personnel have received the vaccine. Guard and reserve rates are lower but generally over 90%.
The Trump administration then spent months crafting a policy to allow service members who refused to take the mandatory COVID-19 vaccine to return to duty with back pay. While the Pentagon has only accepted a small percentage of the new policy, Hegseth’s team has spent the past few months personally highlighting it.
The Pentagon said in March that 153 service members who were separated under the COVID-19 mandate had been reinstated or had “access restored.”
The dropping of the flu vaccine mandate comes on the heels of what health officials said was a particularly severe flu season when infection rates rose in the United States. Public health experts recommend that everyone ages 6 months and older get an annual flu vaccine.
The Trump administration is working to roll back vaccine recommendations. She reported earlier this year that she would do so No longer recommended Flu shots and some other types of vaccines for all children, saying it’s a decision parents and patients should make in consultation with their doctors. There’s a federal judge Temporarily blocked This effort amounts to a lawsuit.
The Congressional Research Service has listed eight mandatory vaccines for its service members 2021 report. These vaccines included influenza, polio, and tetanus vaccines, as well as measles and hepatitis A and B.
Service members can request to opt out of vaccine requirements for religious reasons, the report said. But the unit commander was required to seek input from medical and religious representatives, while also advising the service member about the potential impact on their ability to deploy. The military physician also had to advise the service member about the benefits and risks of forgoing the required vaccination.
Congressional Research Service He pointed out that the army It established its first vaccination program in 1777 when General George Washington directed the inoculation of the Continental Army to protect personnel from smallpox.