Members of the US armed services will no longer be required to have an annual flu vaccination shot under a new policy announced Tuesday by Pete Hegseth, the US defense secretary.
The policy change applies to active duty, reserve component and civilian personnel, according to a Pentagon memorandum released Tuesday.
Its first widespread use was licensed for the military in 1945 and later for civilians.
An annual flu vaccination has been required for service members for more than 80 years, with some exemption granted for severe allergies or pregnancy, or for administrative reasons including sincere religious beliefs.
Vaccine denialism during the coronavirus pandemic outbreak affected the military: about 8,000 service members were separated from service for refusing to take the Covid-19 vaccine between 2021 and 2022.
The Pentagon rescinded the Covid-19 vaccine mandate in September and Donald Trump signed an executive order last year reinstating service members discharged under the department’s Covid-19 vaccine mandate.
Under the order, separated service members who provide a written and sworn attestation that they voluntarily left the service or allowed their service to lapse according to appropriate procedures, rather than be vaccinated under the vaccine mandate, can return to service with no impact on their service status, rank or pay. »
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