Over 160 US soldiers contracted influenza at a base in San Antonio, Texas, less than two months after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth canceled the mandatory flu vaccine for troops, the New York Times reported Friday morning.
Citing internal Pentagon data, the New York Times reported that at least 160 U.S. service members at Joint Base San Antonio have been diagnosed with influenza since early May, following the March 31 decision by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to end the military's mandatory flu vaccination requirement. The outbreak comes as the base prepares for a summer training rotation; hospital capacity has not been breached, but the incident has reignited debate over force health protection. The report did not name specific units or confirm whether any soldiers were hospitalized. Hegseth's office has not yet issued a response.
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Source and signal
- Internal intake