Pentagon ends mandatory flu shots for troops

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ended the Pentagon's mandatory annual flu vaccination policy for all military personnel. Hegseth called the previous mandate 'overly broad' and framed the shift to a voluntary choice as a move to protect 'medical autonomy' and 'religious freedom'. The policy change comes amid an ongoing debate over military readiness and significant backlash against medical mandates within the ranks. This decision marks a significant reversal of a long-standing public health protocol within the US armed forces.