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.
"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. Our new policy is simple. If you, an American warrior entrusted to defend this nation, believe that the flu vaccine is in your best interest, then you're free to take it. You should, but we will not force you."
A Pentagon policy memorandum, which Hegseth signed on April 20, instructs military services and components to submit requests for exceptions to the updated influenza vaccine policy through the assistant secretary of war for health affairs by May 5.
In his video statement, Hegseth indicated the decision to retract the influenza vaccine mandate was informed by the military's contentious past experience with the COVID-19 vaccine mandate during President Joe Biden's tenure.
Thousands of U.S. troops challenged the Biden-era COVID-19 vaccine mandate, and around 8,700 faced involuntary separation as a result.
Since President Donald Trump began his second term last year, Hegseth has overseen efforts to reverse the COVID-19 vaccine mandate and reinstate troops who were separated.
"Under President Trump, the War Department continues to take decisive action to once again restore freedom and strength to our joint force," Hegseth said.
Of the approximately 8,700 U.S. military personnel who were discharged over the course of the COVID-19 vaccine mandate, 153 had been reinstated as of February. A Pentagon official told The Epoch Times that the various military services were tracking around 800 others who have expressed interest in returning to military service.
“This change reflects our confidence that returning members will make an immediate and positive impact,” he said at the time.