Uma grave onda de casos de gripe atingiu a Base Aérea de Lackland, no Texas, afetando 160 soldados apenas dois meses depois que o secretário de Defesa dos Estados Unidos, Pete Hegseth, suspendeu a obrigatoriedade da vacinação para os militares. The decision raised concerns about public health in the Armed Forces.
Tragically, one of the staff members did not resist the disease.
Change in military health policy
In April, Pete Hegseth justified the abolition of mandatory immunization against the flu, invoking individual freedom and the possibility for soldiers to exercise their religious beliefs. He defended autonomy of choice regarding vaccination.
The secretary criticized former President Joe Biden, describing the vaccine requirement as an “absurd and abusive” imposition. According to Hegseth, the measure would compromise military readiness and combat capabilities.
In announcing the new guideline, Hegseth declared the policy to be straightforward: “If you, an American warrior…believe that the flu vaccine is in your best interest, then you are free to get it…But we will not force you. Because your body, your faith, is non-negotiable.”
Reversal of the order and vaccination history
The implementation of Pete Hegseth’s new policy, linked to a vision of scientific contestation, resulted in only 40% of military personnel adhering to vaccination. In response to the influenza outbreak, which persisted for three weeks, leadership at Lackland Air Force Base made the decision to reinstate vaccinations, disregarding the Secretary’s previous order to contain the spread of the disease.
It is crucial to highlight that, since 1945, vaccination against influenza was a compulsory practice among the United States military. This historic measure, which lasted eight decades, was justified by the living conditions in shared accommodation and dining halls, environments conducive to the rapid spread of infectious diseases.
Connections to the anti-vaccine movement
The influence of figures such as Robert Kennedy Jr., known for his alignment with the anti-vaccine movement and reportedly heading the Health Department during the Trump administration, led to the repeal of other immunization requirements. This included vaccines such as COVID-19 and hepatitis B for newborns, reflecting a broader political agenda.
Assuming leadership of the Pentagon, Hegseth openly embraced the anti-vaccine stance, especially when it came to immunizing new recruits. His personal history includes a landmark statement from February 2019 when, as a Fox News host, he categorically stated, “Germs don’t exist.”