The Air Force confirmed an influenza outbreak has affected the 37th Training Wing at Lackland over the past three weeks. Each year, more than 36,000 recruits come through the unit. (Rose L. Thayer/Stars and Stripes)
More than 200 trainees at Lackland Air Force Base have been struck with influenza, less than two months after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth lifted the annual flu vaccine requirement.
Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, whose district includes Lackland, said the Air Force informed him last week that the number had increased to 222, up from 160 previously reported cases.
The Air Force confirmed an influenza outbreak has affected the 37th Training Wing at Lackland over the past three weeks. Each year, more than 36,000 recruits come through the unit.
“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. “Symptomatic trainees are receiving the appropriate care with antiviral medications such as Tamiflu. Once they are cleared by medical professionals, they will return to training.”
The spokesman did not provide a response to the most recent number of trainees who contracted the flu.
A trainee in his sixth week of basic training died last week after experiencing a medical emergency June 12 and was transferred to Brooke Army Medical Center. The cause of the medical emergency involving the trainee, identified as Keon McDaniel, remains under investigation, and a comprehensive medical review is underway, the Air Force said in a statement.
Hegseth in April issued new guidance that the annual influenza vaccine is voluntary for all active and reserve component service members and DOD civilian personnel.
“We’re seizing this moment to discard any absurd, overreaching mandates that only weaken our warfighting capabilities,” Hegseth said in a video posted on X.
The policy makes it optional, and leaves the decision on whether to get the vaccine up to the individual.
In the weeks since the policy took effect, only about 40% of Air Force trainees have chosen to be vaccinated, The New York Times reported.
Since taking office, Hegseth has fought to ensure that troops who were forced to leave the military for refusing to take the COVID-19 vaccine are able to return to service. The vaccine was mandatory for active-duty service members from August 2021 to January 2023 under former President Joe Biden.
Approximately 8,700 service members were involuntarily separated for not complying with the vaccine mandate, and more than 3,000 of them did not receive honorable discharges, the Pentagon has said.
In March, Hegseth extended the deadline to apply for reinstatement to April 1, 2027.
