The United States Department of Defense has restored mandatory influenza vaccinations for recruits across the Army, Navy, and Air Force following a significant outbreak at Lackland Air Force Base.

由於拉克蘭空軍基地爆發大規模疫情，美國國防部已恢復陸軍、海軍及空軍新兵的強制流感疫苗接種要求。

The current policy shift follows an April 21 directive by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who rendered the influenza vaccine optional on the grounds of religious freedom and medical autonomy, characterizing previous mandates as irrational. This directive disrupted a protocol established in 1945, which was itself a response to the 1918 pandemic that resulted in approximately 45,000 American military fatalities. Historically, the U.S. military has utilized mandatory inoculation as a strategic instrument for force preservation, a practice dating back to General George Washington's 1777 smallpox inoculation order.

此次政策轉向源於國防部長 Pete Hegseth 於 4 月 21 日發布的指令，他以宗教自由和醫療自主為由，將流感疫苗改為自願接種，並將先前的強制令定調為不合理。此指令打破了 1945 年建立的方案，而該方案本身是為了應對 1918 年導致約 45,000 名美國軍人死亡的大流行而制定的。從歷史來看，美國軍方一直將強制接種作為維持兵力的戰略手段，此做法可追溯至華盛頓將軍在 1777 年發布的天花接種令。

Recent epidemiological developments at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, have highlighted the risks associated with the cessation of these mandates. Reports indicate that between 222 and 275 recruits contracted the virus, with four hospitalizations and one death recorded, although the causality of the latter remains unverified. Data suggests that vaccination rates among recruits declined to approximately 40% following the April policy change. The base's operational environment—characterized by high-density housing, communal facilities, and sleep deprivation—is identified as a primary catalyst for the rapid transmission of respiratory pathogens.

近期在德州聖安東尼奧的拉克蘭空軍基地出現的流行病學發展，凸顯了取消強制令相關的風險。報告指出有 222 至 275 名新兵感染病毒，其中 4 人住院，1 人死亡（儘管後者的因果關係尚未經證實）。數據顯示，在 4 月政策變動後，新兵的疫苗接種率下降至約 40%。基地的作戰環境——以高密度住房、共用設施和睡眠不足為特徵——被認定為呼吸道病原體快速傳播的主要催化劑。

Despite the temporal proximity of the outbreak to the policy reversal, Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell asserted that the decision to grant exceptions to the Army, Navy, Air Force, the National Security Agency, and the Defense Health Agency was the result of a comprehensive risk assessment rather than a direct reaction to the Lackland incident. These exceptions are framed as necessary adjustments to maintain operational readiness and lethality. Furthermore, the Army and Navy are seeking to extend these requirements to healthcare workers, childcare providers, and personnel slated for overseas deployment.

儘管疫情爆發與政策反轉在時間上非常接近，但五角大廈發言人 Sean Parnell 主張，決定給予陸軍、海軍、空軍、國家安全局及國防健康局豁免，是全面風險評估的結果，而非對拉克蘭事件的直接反應。這些豁免被視為維持作戰準備與殺傷力的必要調整。此外，陸軍與海軍正尋求將這些要求擴展至醫療工作者、托育提供者以及計劃海外部署的人員。

The U.S. military has returned to a mandatory vaccination model for basic trainees to mitigate the spread of influenza and ensure institutional readiness.

美國軍方已恢復對基礎訓練兵的強制疫苗接種模式，以減輕流感傳播並確保制度準備就緒。