The Navy is reinstating flu vaccine requirements for deploying sailors and those just joining the service, as well as some civilian employees, just three months after the Pentagon removed the mandate across the force. Units that fall under the order will have until Jan. 15 to ensure their sailors have received the vaccine. The New York Times and ABC News reported that only 40% of trainees had received the vaccine after it became optional. The new flu vaccine mandate also applies to Navy civilian staff who run initial entry training, healthcare personnel with direct patient care, and workers at base daycares or other youth service programs. The NAVADMIN states that individual sailors can still pursue vaccine exemptions for medical or administrative reasons, like religious accommodations.