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Army Immunization Program

Thursday, Aug. 20, 2015

What is it?

The Army immunization program is a positive, direct, and specific approach to disease prevention and control. This program, as it developed, represented a very considerable expansion of the application of immunization procedures in the Army.

Currently, the Immunization Healthcare Branch of the Defense Health Agency synchronizes, integrates, and coordinates immunization policies and other immunization-related activities for all DOD components.

Why is this important to the Army?

Immunizations are the best protection against vaccine preventable disease, and have saved more lives than any other medical measure in history. In their “Ten Great Public Health Achievements,” the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that the routine childhood immunization schedule can prevent up to 42,000 deaths and 20 million cases of disease for every 4 million children who are born. Morbidity from vaccine-preventable diseases has fallen 90 percent or more since the mid-20th century.

Flu season can be dangerous, unpredictable, and degrade force readiness and the Army’s mission. Army Medicine is committed to ensuring that every Soldier, Family member, DA Civilian, Army retiree and healthcare provider receives the vaccines they need to stay healthy.

What has the Army done?

The Army supports the designation of August as National Immunization & Influenza Awareness Month. It is critically important that every Soldier, Family member, DA Civilian and health beneficiary receive all of their immunizations, including yearly influenza immunizations, to ensure the Army is a healthy and mission-ready force. The CDC annually ranks influenza as one of the top ten leading causes of age-adjusted death in the United States.

What continued efforts does the Army have planned for the future?

The Army will continue to aggressively educate all Soldiers, Family members and other beneficiaries on the importance of keeping their immunizations up to date. For the 2015-2016 influenza season, the Army has contracted for almost 1.7 million doses of influenza vaccine. This helps to ensure that Soldiers and beneficiaries are protected against influenza. In late August, the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) will begin delivering this year’s unique influenza vaccine to military treatment facilities.

Resources:

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