Flu Outbreak Sidelines Trainees at Air Force Base

An influenza outbreak has sickened trainees at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas, officials said on June 19.

The situation follows the Department of War’s decision to stop requiring influenza vaccination.

An Air Force spokesperson told The Epoch Times in an email on Friday that the military “has been managing a localized influenza outbreak among trainees at Basic Military Training” at the base.

“Medical professionals and Public Health officials have implemented mitigation measures to isolate and treat symptomatic trainees to reduce further exposure and continue to monitor the situation,” the spokesperson said.

“Medical personnel are also monitoring trainees who were in close contact with sick members in case they become symptomatic. Symptomatic trainees are receiving the appropriate care with antiviral medications such as Tamiflu. Once they are cleared by medical professionals they will return to training.”

It was not clear how many troops and trainees have been infected. The Department of War declined to provide that information.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth rolled back the influenza vaccination requirement in the spring, saying that it was “overly broad and not rational.” He added: “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.”

Flu vaccination is effective in some years, and not effective in others, according to estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The effectiveness since 2009 has ranged from 19 percent to 60 percent, according to the estimates.

Sean Parnell, the Pentagon’s chief spokesman, told The Epoch Times in an email that Hegseth recently issued updated guidance regarding influenza vaccination that outlined how vaccination is voluntary for all troops, and directed an under secretary to review requests for exceptions to the policy.

“Following a comprehensive review of these requests, and in line with standard Department of War practice for adapting force health protection measures to critical operational realities, the [under secretary] granted [exceptions] for the Department of the Army, Department of the Navy, Department of the Air Force, National Security Agency, and Defense Health Agency,” Parnell said.

“The decisions were based upon thorough risk assessments and are designed to maximize operational readiness, lethality, and force generation, while safeguarding at-risk populations,” he said, adding that the agency “remains committed to the health and readiness of our warfighters and civilian personnel.”

Thousands of U.S. troops challenged the Biden-era COVID-19 vaccine mandate, and about 8,700 faced involuntary separation as a result. 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.