The US Department of Defense is abolishing the mandatory flu vaccination for soldiers, citing religious reasons, among other things.
Apr 22, 2026, 7:42 amApr 22, 2026, 7:42 am
“Your body, your faith and your convictions are non-negotiable,” emphasized Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth, who describes himself as Secretary of War, in a video message to the troops. The flu vaccination will therefore only be optional for soldiers in the future. This overturns a rule introduced after World War II and maintained for decades under both Republican and Democratic administrations.
Pete Hegseth is overturning a practice that has been in place in the US Army since World War II. Image: keystone
“Our new line is simple: If you – as an American warrior entrusted with the defense of this country – believe that the flu vaccination is in your best interest, you can get it; you should too. But we won’t force you,” Hegseth says in the video.
During the corona pandemic, the previous government “forced men and women in uniform to choose between their beliefs and their country, even if these decisions did not pose a threat to our military readiness.” This “era of betrayal” is now over.
“Hegseth’s decision is negligent”
Critics consider the change of course by the minister, who is seen by many as a religious zealot, to be a serious mistake. “Hegseth’s decision is negligent and jeopardizes our military readiness,” warned Democratic Rep. Jason Crow, who once fought in Iraq and Afghanistan. Army veteran Richard Ricciardi, who now teaches health courses as a university professor, told the US broadcaster CNN:
“In the military, vaccinations are not political theater, but rather serve to protect the troops. Soldiers live and work in close proximity to one another, so flu viruses can spread rapidly and render otherwise healthy forces incapable of fighting.”
Since President Donald Trump took office, the US government has repeatedly denied scientifically accepted facts on the subject of vaccinations. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in particular questions the usefulness of vaccinations. He established a connection between vaccinations and autism – which was refuted by researchers – and long advised against injections against measles. When the number of new infections soared to its highest level in decades, he described vaccinations as the most effective means of containing the epidemic. (sda/dpa)