Coverage dated April 20, 2026 to April 21, 2026

Flu vaccine no longer mandated for US troops, Hegseth says

Headline from ABC 13 Houston

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Tuesday that the U.S. military will no longer require all American troops to get the flu vaccine.

ABC 13 Houston's own description from its feed. We collect headlines and these descriptions, not full articles; read the original reporting below.

Earlier updates in this story

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Reports & sources

42 articles, oldest first.

Fox7 Austin
Hegseth says flu vaccine now optional for military (opens Fox7 Austin)
Published Apr 20, 2026
Fox7 Austin's feed description
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced the flu vaccine is now optional for military members, saying they no longer have to choose “between their conscience and their country."
ABC 13 Houston
Flu vaccine no longer mandated for US troops, Hegseth says (opens ABC 13 Houston)
Published Apr 21, 2026
ABC 13 Houston's feed description
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Tuesday that the U.S. military will no longer require all American troops to get the flu vaccine.
NBC10 Philadelphia
Pete Hegseth says the U.S. military will no longer require flu shots (opens NBC10 Philadelphia)
Published Apr 20, 2026
NBC10 Philadelphia's feed description
Hegseth cited “medical autonomy” and religious freedom.
Philadelphia Inquirer
Annual flu vaccine no longer required for U.S. military, Hegseth says (opens Philadelphia Inquirer)
Published Apr 20, 2026
Philadelphia Inquirer's feed description
The move alarmed some public health experts, who warned that it would weaken troop readiness.
The Guardian
US military service members will no longer be required to get annual flu shot (opens The Guardian)
Published Apr 20, 2026
The Guardian's feed description
Defense secretary Pete Hegseth makes announcement and calls military’s flu vaccine mandate ‘broad’ and ‘not rational’
Military Times
Flu vaccine requirement discarded ‘effective immediately,’ Hegseth says (opens Military Times)
Published Apr 20, 2026
Military Times's feed description
The flu vaccine has been required annually for U.S. military personnel since the 1950s .
CBS News
Pete Hegseth scraps mandatory flu shots for U.S. service members (opens CBS News)
Published Apr 20, 2026
CBS News's feed description
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said U.S. service members will no longer be required to get annual flu shots.
Fox News
Hegseth announces end to military flu vaccine requirement (opens Fox News)
Published Apr 20, 2026
Fox News's feed description
Pete Hegseth announced the end of the Pentagon's mandatory flu vaccine for U.S. troops, saying service members can now decide for themselves whether to get the annual shot.
Washington Examiner
Pentagon rolls back military flu vaccine requirement (opens Washington Examiner)
Published Apr 20, 2026
Washington Examiner's feed description
Pete Hegseth framed the Pentagon's flu vaccine mandate as a “war on warriors” waged by the Biden administration.
PJ Media
Hegseth Ends Mandatory Military Flu Vaccinations (opens PJ Media)
Published Apr 20, 2026
PJ Media's feed description
Pentagon ends mandatory flu vaccinations for troops, restoring medical autonomy and individual choice under Secretary Hegseth.
ABC 12 Flint
Pentagon makes flu shot optional for troops, rescinding requirement (opens ABC 12 Flint)
Published Apr 20, 2026
ABC 12 Flint's feed description
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Tuesday that the U.S. military will no longer require the annual flu vaccine for troops.
Scientific American
Hegseth says U.S. military no longer requires flu vaccination, drawing criticism from health experts (opens Scientific American)
Published Apr 20, 2026
Scientific American's feed description
The decision to no longer enforce mandatory annual flu shots for military personnel could mean more troops will get sick during flu season, one expert says
The Boston Globe
Annual flu vaccine no longer required for US military, Hegseth says (opens The Boston Globe)
Published Apr 20, 2026
The Boston Globe's feed description
The military will no longer require US troops to receive the annual flu vaccine, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Tuesday, rolling back what he described as an “overly broad” mandate that had been in place for seven decades.
Al Jazeera
Flu vaccine no longer mandatory for soldiers, says US military chief (opens Al Jazeera)
Published Apr 20, 2026
Al Jazeera's feed description
Pete Hegseth says the decision is based on principle of ‘medical autonomy’ and criticises the mandate as ‘overreaching’.
The New Republic
Hegseth Ends Flu Vaccine Mandate—Ensuring Everyone’s About to Get Sick (opens The New Republic)
Published Apr 20, 2026
The New Republic's feed description
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says a flu vaccine requirement is “absurd.”
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Flu shots no longer required for troops (opens Arkansas Democrat-Gazette)
Published Apr 21, 2026
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette's feed description
WASHINGTON -- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Tuesday that the U.S. military will no longer require all American troops to get the flu vaccine, citing "medical autonomy" and religious freedom.
The Week
Hegseth ends US military flu vaccine requirement (opens The Week)
Published Apr 21, 2026
The Week's feed description
Vaccines will still be available for service members who want them
New York Post
Hegseth announces end to military flu vaccine requirement: ‘We will not force you’ (opens New York Post)
Published Apr 21, 2026
New York Post's feed description
War Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the end of the Pentagon's long-running flu vaccine mandate for US troops, saying on X that service members would no longer be forced to take the annual flu shot.

Identical headlines usually mean shared wire copy. They are counted as separate articles but are not independent confirmation.