The new directive issued Tuesday by Defense Secretary Hegseth is feared to have negative repercussions on military personnel in close quarters.

Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth announced the military is ending a longstanding policy that required all service members get the flu shot.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said U.S. service members will no longer be required to get annual flu shots.

Vaccine effectiveness was generally higher in younger children younger than 8 years, at 63% in the 2023-2024 season, than among older children (48% during the same season). Effectiveness also varied by circulating strain. Protection overall was the highest against influenza B (69%), followed by A/H1N1 (53%), and A/H3N2 (43%).

CLEVELAND, Ohio — This season’s influenza vaccine may have been less effective than last season’s, because it was not well matched against the flu strains in circulation, according to an analysis by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

NEW YORK -- As the U.S. flu season winds down, health officials say the flu vaccine wasn't very effective, with one of its worst effectiveness rates in more than a decade. A new strain that dominated the early winter was not well matched to the vaccine ...