The U.S. Department of Defense has quietly rolled back its long-standing requirement that all service members receive the annual flu shot. Under the new policy, reservists and National Guard members are largely exempt unless called to active duty for 30 days or more. This is a drastic shift that risks undermining military readiness and public trust in vaccines.

It’s part of a troubling pattern. The Trump administration has elevated anti-vaccine voices to key public health panels, promoted discredited claims linking vaccines to autism, and now, through Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, is amplifying posts celebrating the end of flu shot mandates for the military.

Vaccines protect not only the individual soldier but also entire units operating in close quarters and high-risk environments. Weakening these protections increases the risk of illness spreading through the ranks and into civilian communities. The military has long understood this, which is why the flu shot was once non-negotiable. Reversing that sends a dangerous message. It suggests that public health protections are political, optional, and expendable.

This decision also sets a precedent for more vaccine rollbacks. It threatens to erode long-standing norms that keep both service members and civilians safe. Already, the administration has refused to recommend COVID-19 shots at all. What happens if measles or meningitis vaccines are next?

We call on Secretary Hegseth and the Department of Defense to reinstate the universal flu vaccine requirement for all service members, including reservists and National Guard members.

Military health policy must be guided by science and public safety, not social media posts or political pressure.

Photo: Jim Watson AFP