Hegseth Drops Mandatory Flu Vaccines for Troops

0:00It's April 21st. This is Durham News today, your AI-powered local news. Defense Secretary Pete Hankseth just dropped a big change for the U.S. military. No more mandatory flu vaccines for all troops. He says it's about medical autonomy and religious freedom, calling the old rule too broad and not practical for every situation. Troops can still get the shot if they want, but no one's forcing it anymore. Services like the Army and Navy have 15 days to ask to keep the requirement if they think it's needed. This comes after the COVID vaccine mandates stirred up major drama. Over 8,000 troops got kicked out for refusing, though most eventually got, vaccinated. Now the Pentagon's bringing back 153 of them with back pay. Military vaccines go way back to the Revolutionary War when George Washington pushed small pock shots. There were eight mandatory ones before, including flu, measles, and tenderness, with exemptions possible, but a lot of hoops. Even with a rough flu season this year, the Trump team is pushing personal choice on

1:01vaccines, even for kids, letting docs and parents decide instead of blanket rules.