Flu outbreak tests new Pentagon vaccine policy

NPR | By Pien Huang,

Linah Mohammad, Janaya Williams

Published June 20, 2026 at 5:43 PM EDT

A flu outbreak at a Texas Air Force Base is fueling debate over the Pentagon's decision to end the military's flu vaccine mandate. Former military health official Jose Sanchez explains the stakes.

Pien Huang

Pien Huang is a health reporter on the Science desk. She was NPR's first Reflect America Fellow, working with shows, desks and podcasts to bring more diverse voices to air and online.

See stories by Pien Huang

Linah Mohammad

Prior to joining NPR in 2022, Mohammad was a producer on The Washington Post's daily flagship podcast Post Reports, where her work was recognized by multiple awards. She was honored with a Peabody award for her work on an episode on the life of George Floyd.

Janaya Williams

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