In a surprising turn of events, the Pentagon has reversed course on the flu vaccine just two months after U.S. War Secretary Pete Hegseth had made it optional.
All military services are once again requiring the vaccination for new recruits undergoing basic training at boot camps like Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio.
The restored requirement was announced on June 24 after an outbreak of the flu began at Lackland about three weeks ago.
Castro represents the 20th Congressional District in Texas, which spans parts of San Antonio and surrounding Bexar County areas.
Since Castro’s post, the number of cases has increased to nearly 300 people.
In a statement to the media, Sean Parnell,
Pentagon’s top spokesman confirmed that exceptions were granted to the Army, Navy, and Air Force as well as the National Security Agency and the Defense Health Agency but wouldn’t offer further details.
However, both Army and Navy officials have said that they have also asked for permission to make the shot mandatory for certain broad groups that include troops deploying overseas, healthcare workers, and child care workers.
Respecting medical autonomy and religious freedom, Hegseth first repealed the requirement on April 21 while allowing the branches of the military to ask for exceptions within 15 days.
“The notion that a flu vaccine must be mandatory for every service member, everywhere, in every circumstance at all times is just overly broad and not rational,” Hegseth said at the time in a video posted on social media. “Your body, your faith and your convictions are not negotiable. “
Lackland Air Force Base receives 700 new service members every week for basic training, according to Air Force data, and some 60 percent of bootcamp trainees at Lackland opted out of receiving the shot once it became optional in April.
They progress through the rigorous boot camp communally in dormitories and experience close contact in their instruction and inspections.