Was he no longer a soldier? My soldiers, Marine, and sailor all had flu shots as soon as they were available last year. It was mandatory. My soldiers both got the flu last year.
I was on active duty in the Army from 1977-1982. We got a flu shot every year. They gave it to us on a Friday so that we would be ill over the week-end on our time and back to work on Monday. Bastards.
The flu is deadly, that’s the point. Whether that guy was part of the 10% who aren’t helped by the vaccine, I’m just not sure.