Apr 30, 2026
The Military Rethinks Influenza
Our military has long treated the body as an instrument of collective strength, with individual choice yielding to operational necessity. In the shadow of COVID-era tensions, Secretary Hegseth’s decision to remove the influenza vaccine from the list of required immunizations challenges that tradition, raising a deeper question: not whether the flu shot works, but whether mandating it still serves the mission.
Our military has long treated the body as an instrument of collective strength, with individual choice yielding to operational necessity. In the shadow of COVID-era tensions, Secretary Hegseth’s decision to remove the influenza vaccine from the list of required immunizations challenges that tradition, raising a deeper question: not whether the flu shot works, but whether mandating it still serves the mission.
