More than 160 troops contract flu at Texas base after Hegseth lifts vaccine order

More than 160 troops have contracted influenza at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas in the past few weeks following Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s decision earlier this year to end mandatory flu vaccines for service members, a source familiar with the matter told The Hill on Friday.

The Air Force told The Hill that the 37th Training Wing, which is at Lackland in San Antonio, is in “close” coordination with the 59th Medical Wing, the Air Force’s largest medical wing and is “managing a localized influenza outbreak among trainees at Basic Military Training.” 

“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,” an Air Force spokesperson said in a statement. “Medical personnel are also monitoring trainees who were in close contact with sick members in case they become symptomatic.”

Symptomatic trainees are receiving “appropriate care with antiviral medications such as Tamiflu,” and they will return to training once medical professionals clear them, the spokesperson said. 

Each year, more than 36,000 recruits come through the 37th Training Wing.  

Keon McDaniel, who was in his sixth week of basic military training from the 737th Training Support Squadron, experienced a medical emergency and died earlier this week at the Brooke Army Medical Center, the Air Force said. 

The cause of the medical emergency is under investigation, and a “comprehensive” medical review is underway, according to the Air Force. 

The outbreak was first reported by The New York Times. 

The Pentagon ended the mandatory flu vaccines for service members in April, Hegseth announced, arguing the changes are giving........

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