Hegseth Drops Flu Vaccine Mandate for Troops

0:00Defense Secretary Pete Hexeth just dropped a big change for the military. The flu vaccine is now optional for all troops effective immediately after. His memo on April 20th, he announced it Tuesday on social media, saying no more forcing service members to pick between their conscience and their country. This echoes the COVID vaccine saga under the Biden administration, where over 8,000 troops got discharged for refusing the shot. Since then, many have been reinstated, with the Pentagon reporting 153 back in service by March, plus offers a back pay. Hexeth called the old flu mandate overly broad and not rational, stressing that those who want the vaccine can still get it, but nobody's compelled. Anymore, vaccination requirements in the military go way back to the American Revolution, but this shifts the balance toward personal choice. Meanwhile, the Trump team is pushing broader vaccine tweaks, like Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. slashing recommendations for kids on flu, hepatitis, and others back in January, a federal judge temporarily blocked that last month

1:05over procedural issues. These moves signal a real pivot on mandates across the board, putting individual freedom front and center in health policy for troops and beyond. Local news, powered by AI. This is Tampa Bay News today. I'm Corey with the story.