Flu outbreak hits Lackland Air Force Base after vaccine mandate dropped
5 reported2 unconfirmed
Dozens of service members at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas have fallen ill with the flu in the weeks since Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth rescinded the flu vaccine mandate, sources familiar confirmed to CBS News. The 37th Training Wing has been managing a localized influenza outbreak among trainees at Basic Military Training, according to an Air Force spokesperson. The unit has implemented mitigation measures to isolate and treat symptomatic trainees, who are receiving antiviral medications such as Tamiflu. Only about 40% of Air Force trainees have opted to take the flu vaccine since the mandate was dropped, sources said. Separately, a trainee in his sixth week of basic military training died June 16 following a medical emergency, with the cause under investigation. The outbreak and the death are not directly linked in the article.
What’s reported
Dozens of service members at Lackland Air Force Base have fallen ill with the flu in the weeks since the vaccine mandate was rescinded.
The 37th Training Wing is managing a localized influenza outbreak among trainees at Basic Military Training.
Symptomatic trainees are receiving antiviral medications such as Tamiflu.
Only about 40% of Air Force trainees have opted to take the flu vaccine since the mandate was rescinded.
Trainee Keon McDaniel died June 16 at Brooke Army Medical Center after a medical emergency; the cause is under investigation.
Open questions
The exact number of service members who have fallen ill.
Whether the flu outbreak is connected to the trainee’s death.
Key figures
Pete Hegseth, Defense Secretary
Sean Parnell, Chief Pentagon spokesman
Keon McDaniel, trainee who died
Sources: CBS News
