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Army Immunization Program

Provided by U.S. Army Medical Command Friday, December 4, 2020

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 Division of the Defense Health Agency synchronizes, integrates, and coordinates immunization policies and other immunization-related activities for all Department of Defense components.

What are the current and past efforts of the Army?

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. The Army continues to advocate 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.

  • Army scientists are supporting a whole-of-government approach to investigate and develop vaccine candidates against the recent COVID-19 pandemic.
  • The vaccine candidates under investigation include different approaches to generate immunity and are at different stages of development.
  • The Army, along with its U.S. government partners, is progressing at revolutionary rates in order to deliver effective treatment and prevention products to protect U.S. and global citizens and preserve the readiness and lethality of our DOD service members.

What continued efforts does the Army have planned?

The Army will continue to aggressively educate all Soldiers, Family members and other beneficiaries on the importance of keeping their immunizations up to date. This helps to ensure that Soldiers and beneficiaries are protected against disease. The Department of Defense and Army continually strive to do everything possible to protect the military from diseases at home and abroad.

Why is this important to the Army?

The number one priority of the Army is the protection of its people. Immunizations are the best protection against vaccine preventable disease and have saved more lives than any other medical measure in history. Immunization against disease is an important part of a Soldier’s medical readiness for worldwide deployment. Medical Readiness allows the Army to mobilize Soldiers and meet the Army mission.

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Events

December 2020

Dec 12: Army-Navy Game Dec 13: National Guard Birthday Dec. 16 - Jan. 25: Battle of the Bulge

January 2020

Jan. 1 : New Year’s Day Jan. 18: Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Focus Quote for the Day

We protect what we value; we value Soldiers!

— John Resta, director, Army Public Health Center