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🇺🇸 United States /Health & Science

Air Force training wing grapples with flu outbreak weeks after vaccine mandate rescinded

From CBS News · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Dozens of trainees at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas have contracted influenza in the weeks following the rescission of the COVID-19 vaccine mandate.
  • The 37th Training Wing is managing the outbreak, isolating symptomatic trainees and administering antiviral medications.
  • The rescission of the mandate was part of a broader Pentagon decision to remove "absurd, overreaching mandates" deemed to weaken warfighting capability, though exceptions can still be made.

An influenza outbreak has affected dozens of service members at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas, occurring in the weeks after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth rescinded the COVID-19 vaccine mandate. Sources confirmed the outbreak primarily impacts trainees within the 37th Training Wing.

Over the last three weeks, the 37th Training Wing, in close coordination with the 59th Medical Wing, has been managing a localized influenza outbreak among trainees at Basic Military Training.

— Air Force spokespersonConfirming the influenza outbreak among trainees at Lackland Air Force Base.

Air Force officials stated that the wing, in coordination with the 59th Medical Wing, is actively managing the localized outbreak. Mitigation measures include isolating trainees who show symptoms and providing them with antiviral treatments like Tamiflu. The Air Force spokesperson confirmed that exposed trainees are also being monitored.

seizing this moment to discard any absurd, overreaching mandates that only weaken our warfighting capability.

— Pete HegsethDefense Secretary, explaining the rationale behind rescinding the vaccine mandate.

The decision to rescind the vaccine mandate was announced in April, with Secretary Hegseth stating the Pentagon aimed to remove "absurd, overreaching mandates that only weaken our warfighting capability." However, updated guidance allows for exceptions to be made if necessary for operational readiness, with departments responsible for implementing these decisions based on risk assessments.

The decisions were based upon thorough risk assessments and are designed to maximize operational readiness, lethality, and force generation, while safeguarding at-risk populations. The Army, Navy, Air Force, NSA, and DHA are responsible for implementing the ETPs.

— Sean ParnellChief Pentagon spokesman, detailing the updated guidance on vaccine policies.

Reports indicate that only about 40% of Air Force trainees have opted to receive the flu vaccine since the broader mandate was lifted. The 37th Training Wing is the largest in the Air Force, responsible for basic military training for all enlisted recruits. This outbreak comes shortly after the unit reported the death of a trainee following a medical emergency, the cause of which is currently under investigation.

The Department remains committed to the health and readiness of our warfighters and civilian personnel.

— Sean ParnellChief Pentagon spokesman, reaffirming the department's commitment to personnel health.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by CBS News in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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