Nearly 160 recruits at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, were sickened in a flu outbreak in mid-June 2026, military sources confirmed [1, 2, 3, 4]. The outbreak occurred less than two months after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ended the mandatory flu vaccine requirement for U.S. military personnel on April 21 [2, 3, 4]. After the mandate was lifted, only about 40% of Air Force recruits chose to receive the flu shot [1, 2, 3, 4].
Lackland recruits live and train in communal settings such as dormitories and shared dining facilities that can spread airborne illnesses like the flu [1, 2, 3, 4]. The outbreak prompted the Air Force to reinstate a vaccination requirement for all recruits at Lackland to help contain the virus [1, 2, 3, 4].
The flu outbreak coincided with the hospitalization and subsequent death of trainee Keon McDaniel, who fell ill on June 12 and was treated at Brooke Army Medical Center [2, 3]. While one source reports McDaniel died June 16, others imply an earlier date in the week; the exact cause of death is under investigation and its connection to the flu outbreak remains unclear [1, 2, 3, 4].
Hegseth justified ending the universal flu vaccine mandate as protecting bodily autonomy, religious freedom, and opposing what he called "absurd overreaching mandates." He said, "Your body, your faith and your convictions are not negotiable," and criticized the previous Biden administration for denying troops "simple medical autonomy" [1, 2].
Senator Roger Wicker expressed concern over removing the mandate, stating, "The reason it was mandatory was to enhance readiness. You know, you do give up certain rights when you take the oath. It's just part of it" [2]. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell defended the policy changes, saying they were based on "thorough risk assessments designed to maximise the readiness and lethality of the force" [2].
Joint Base San Antonio, which includes Lackland, has about 70,000 personnel [1]. The Air Force's decision to reinstate the flu vaccine requirement at Lackland aims to contain the current outbreak and prevent further cases.
