HEGSETH ENDS MANDATORY FLU VACCINE FOR US MILITARY, SAYS SHOT IS NOW OPTIONAL

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced on Tuesday that the annual flu vaccine will now be optional for all U.S. military personnel, both active and reserve.  Previously, the flu vaccine had been mandatory. The new policy is in line with a previous change of making the COVID-19 vaccine optional. Hegseth announced the change in a video posted on social media.

"The notion that a flu vaccine must be mandatory for every service member, everywhere, in every circumstance, at all times, is just overly broad and not rational," Hegseth said. READ MORE AT YAHOO ABC Hegseth ends mandatory flu vaccine for US military, says shot is now optional