On Jun. 24, 2026, the Pentagon announced it has updated the guidance on the influenza vaccination, offering exceptions to policy to military services and select federal agencies.

The move follows a localized flu outbreak at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, that sickened over 220 trainees at Basic Military Training as of June 18. The New York Times reported that the Air Force exception request to vaccinate all trainees was approved following the outbreak.

The Air Force received an exception to vaccinate all trainees, a source familiar with the matter told Military Times. The Pentagon decline to say if all services will now require trainees to get a flu vaccine before Basic Military Training.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth discarded the mandatory flu vaccine requirement in April for all service members, making the vaccine optional for all active and reserve components and Pentagon civilian personnel.

Following a review of the requests made by services, the Under Secretary of Personnel and Readiness Anthony Tata granted exceptions to policy, or ETPs, to the Department of the Army, Department of the Navy, Department of the Air Force, National Security Agency and Defense Health Agency. Since the Marine Corps and Space Force are under the Department of the Navy and Department of the Air Force, respectively, they are also included in the policy exceptions.