A major flu outbreak has sickened nearly 160 troops at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas less than two months after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that U.S. troops would no longer be required to be vaccinated for the flu, defense officials said.<\/p>\n
The outbreak at the base in San Antonio raced through an Air Force Basic Military Training wing, where new recruits sleep on bunk beds in open bays and share meals at large communal tables.<\/p>\n
A trainee in his sixth week of basic training died after falling ill on Friday and being taken to Brooke Army Medical Center, the Air Force said in a news release. It was not immediately clear whether the death of the trainee, Keon McDaniel, was related to the flu outbreak.<\/p>\n
A comprehensive medical review into his death is underway to determine the cause, according to the Air Force.<\/p>\n
In the weeks since Mr. Hegseth\u2019s vaccine policy took effect on April 21<\/a>, only about 40 percent of Air Force trainees have opted to take the vaccine, which had previously been mandatory, an Air Force official said.<\/p>\n In the aftermath of the outbreak, the Air Force issued an exception to the voluntary vaccine policy, requiring that all recruits at Lackland get flu shots \u2014 part of a broader effort to stem the virus\u2019s spread.<\/p>\n Mr. Hegseth cast his decision to make the flu vaccine optional as a matter of religious freedom and medical autonomy.<\/p>\n \u201cUnder the disastrous Biden administration, this Pentagon waged an unrelenting war on our warriors on many fronts, including when it came to denying them simple medical autonomy and the freedom to express their religious convictions,\u201d he said in a video announcing his decision in April.<\/p>\n He described the flu vaccine requirement as an \u201cabsurd, overreaching\u201d mandate that had served to \u201cweaken our warfighting capabilities.\u201d<\/p>\n At the time, many lawmakers, including some prominent Republicans, expressed puzzlement and dismay at Mr. Hegseth\u2019s decision.<\/p>\n \u201cThe reason it was mandatory was to enhance readiness,\u201d Senator Roger Wicker of Mississippi, the chairman of the Armed Services Committee, said shortly after the new policy was announced.<\/p>\n \u201cYou know, you do give up certain rights when you take the oath,\u201d said Mr. Wicker, who is an Air Force veteran. \u201cIt\u2019s just part of it.\u201d<\/p>\n Sean Parnell, the Pentagon\u2019s chief spokesman, on Thursday defended Mr. Hegseth\u2019s handling of the vaccine policy, saying the changes were \u201cbased upon thorough risk assessments\u201d designed to maximize the readiness and lethality of the force.<\/p>\n Air Force officials described the recent flu outbreak as \u201clocalized\u201d to the basic training wing and said that medical personnel were monitoring and offering antiviral medication to trainees who were in contact with those who were ill.<\/p>\n \u201cOnce they are cleared by medical professionals, they will return to training,\u201d an Air Force statement said.<\/p>\n When asked about the matter, a White House spokeswoman referred The New York Times to the Pentagon.<\/p>\n The flu outbreak highlights the risks of Mr. Hegseth\u2019s and the Trump administration\u2019s broader approach to vaccines and public health.<\/p>\n Some members of the administration, particularly those involved in public health agencies, have been critical of vaccinations broadly. While he has changed his tone<\/a> since the spring, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has a history of loudly questioning the safety and effectiveness of many standard vaccines.<\/p>\n