The military just made flu shots optional. Here’s why that’s controversial

In a video uploaded to X, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that military members would no longer be required to get the flu vaccine in order to serve. “We’re seizing this moment to discard any absurd, overreaching mandates that only weaken our war-fighting capabilities,” Hegseth declared. “In this case, this includes the universal flu vaccine and the mandate behind it.”   In a memo accompanying the video announcement, the decision to seek the flu vaccine is described as “...