Influenza outbreaks are not typical for this time of year, yet they can and do occur as illustrated by the nearly 300 cases reported among Air Force boot camp recruits in Texas.
Since 1945, all US military members have been required to get an annual flu vaccine; but in April 2026, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that the vaccine would no longer be required. It would, instead, be voluntary to allow for medical autonomy and religious freedom. Then in early June, a flu outbreak began at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio. Since then, there have been 275 recruits sickened, four hospitalized, and one suspected death is under investigation, though it is not yet clear if it is related.
In late June, the Pentagon reversed its decision, once again making influenza vaccines mandatory for all boot camp recruits. Although a Pentagon official stated that the reinstatement was not related to the outbreak, the base’s handling of about 700 new recruits each week in close quarters “has long been recognized as being conducive to the spread of disease.”
As the CDC chart above shows, the summer months (weeks 22-36) have typically low occurrences of the flu. But conditions such as those at the San Antonio base provide excellent conditions for the spread of such communicable diseases:
- Only about 40% of the new recruits had gotten a flu vaccine.
- The Troops live, work, and spend their days in close quarters and proximation to one another.
- They are continually stressed and exhausted, potentially weakening their immune system.
With military members continually moving about and being deployed overseas, the DOD had previously framed flu vaccinations as a readiness issue, with a goal to reach greater than 90% influenza vaccine compliance by January 15. While it may not be possible for food companies to mandate such strict compliance, communicating the benefits of vaccination and ensuring coverage for the costs can significantly benefit the company by helping to reduce sick days and viral spread.
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Influenza
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