Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ended the U.S. military's mandatory annual flu vaccine requirement, citing medical autonomy and religious freedom. The policy change was announced today and is confirmed by WaPo, NYT, Guardian, Fox News, CBS, NBC, and official Pentagon statements. The poster's sarcastic opening references historical flu outbreaks affecting the military, but provides no specific data about past incidents — the factual claim (the mandate ending) is solid, though the framing minimizes a legitimate defense decision by framing it only through the lens of pandemic risk rather than acknowledging the stated rationale.