The Pentagon adds exemptions to the requirements so that all the troops get the influenza vaccine
Washington – The Pentagon fell from the policy which forces all the troops to obtain the flu each year by introducing exemptions for reservists and proclaiming that the shooting is only necessary in certain circumstances for all members of the service, according to a document obtained by the Associated Press.
The memo, written by the Defense under-security, Steve Feinberg, on May 29 and sent to all military services, says that reserve troops must now be in active service for 30 days or more before being forced to obtain a vaccine against annual flu. He also indicates that soldiers will no longer pay for reservists or members of the National Guard to obtain the vaccine at their own pace.
The news of the change of policy, which was not announced publicly by the Pentagon, comes when the Trump administration and its advisers suggested changes in other vaccination advice. An immunization panel influence that the administration has updated to include anti-vaccine figures has decided not to recommend the COVVI-19 shooting to anyone, while President Donald Trump used his platform to promote unproven links and, in some cases, discredited between analgesic tylenol, vaccines and autism.
In the Pentagon, the influenza note said that “in the future, the department will retain its resources by requiring seasonal flu vaccination for service members when it does it most directly to preparation”. However, the document is not clear on the changes, because it later says that the annual requirement of troops in active service is still in force.
While the memo was quietly sent months ago, the Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, drew attention Wednesday when he republished an anonymous story which claimed that they “were not obliged to shoot a flu this fall for the privilege of serving my state and my country in the National Guard”.
Hegseth office officials did not answer questions about the contradictory nature of the note or comment on the position it amplified.
The Trump administration also offered a salary to former soldiers who refused the COVVI-19 vaccine and were expelled from the army under the Biden administration. Those who refused vaccination have been able to return to service since 2023, but only 113 of the more than 8,000 soldiers returned had chosen to do so.
The rear salary offer aimed to encourage more to re -enroll, but met with limited success. Two months later, Pentagon officials said only 13 people – all army soldiers – joined the army.
