CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED//
ROUTINE
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INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC
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NAVADMIN 158/24
MSGID/NAVADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/N093/AUG//
SUBJ/2024-2025 NAVY INFLUENZA VACCINATION AND REPORTING POLICY//
REF/A/DOC/BUMEDINST 6230.15B/07OCT2013//
REF/B/DOC/DHA-PI 6025.52/04JUN2024//
REF/C/DOC/DODI 6205.02/23JUL2019//
REF/D/DOC/DODI 6025.19/13JUL2022//
REF/E/DOC/BUPERSINST 1730.11A/16MAR2020//
REF/F/DOC/MILPERSMAN 1730-020/15AUG2020//
REF/G/DOC/OFR/32 CFR PART 199.21/11DEC2018//
NARR/REF A IS THE BUREAU OF MEDICINE AND SURGERY INSTRUCTION (BUMEDINST)
6230.15B IMMUNIZATIONS AND CHEMOPROPHYLAXIS FOR THE PREVENTION OF INFECTIOUS
DISEASES.
REF B IS THE DEFENSE HEALTH AGENCY PROCEDURAL INSTRUCTION (DHA-PI) 6025.52
GUIDANCE FOR THE DOD INFLUENZA VACCINATION PROGRAM (IVP).
REF C IS THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE INSTRUCTION (DODI) 6205.02 DOD
IMMUNIZATION PROGRAM, ADDRESSING RESPONSIBILITIES AND PROCEDURES FOR
ESTABLISHING A UNIFORM DOD IMMUNIZATION PROGRAM.
REF D IS DODI 6025.19 INDIVIDUAL MEDICAL READINESS PROGRAM, ADDRESSING
RESPONSIBILITIES AND PROCEDURES FOR MONITORING AND MAINTAINING INDIVIDUAL
MEDICAL READINESS.
REF E IS THE BUREAU OF NAVAL PERSONNEL INSTRUCTION (BUPERSINST) 1730.11A
STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES GOVERNING THE ACCOMMODATION OF RELIGIOUS PRACTICES.
REF F IS THE NAVAL MILITARY PERSONNEL MANUAL (MILPERSMAN) 1730-020
IMMUNIZATION EXEMPTIONS FOR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS.
REF G IS THE OFFICE OF THE FEDERAL REGISTER TITLE 32 OF THE CODE OF FEDERAL
REGULATIONS PART 199.21 (32 CFR PART 199.21), CIVILIAN HEALTH AND MEDICAL
PROGRAM OF THE UNIFORMED SERVICES (CHAMPUS) TRICARE PHARMACY BENEFITS
PROGRAM.//
POC/LCDR HELEN BARNHART/BUMED FALLS CHURCH VA/(703) 681-9474/EMAIL:
helen.m.barnhart.mil@health.mil//
RMKS/1. Per references (a) through (g), this message outlines the 2024-2025
Navy influenza vaccination and reporting policy. Influenza is a contagious
acute febrile respiratory viral infection, which can cause mild to severe
illness, possibly resulting in hospitalization or death. Influenza has the
potential for widespread transmission through person-to-person contact and
can cause epidemics within military populations, especially under conditions
of crowding such as initial entry training or aboard ships, per reference
(a). Influenza has the potential to adversely impact Total Force readiness
and mission execution.
2. Influenza Vaccination and Reporting.
a. Influenza Disease Prevention. Vaccination is the most effective
measure to reduce risk of influenza by enhancing force immunity. Maintaining
a clean work environment, optimizing good hygiene practices such as
cough/sneeze and hand hygiene, mask wearing immediately after symptom onset,
and managing workforce exposure (e.g., social distancing, teleworking, and
taking appropriate sick leave) are additional methods to further reduce the
spread of influenza that should be implemented as mission allows. Detailed
respiratory disease prevention and control recommendations may be found on
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Influenza (Flu) website
at: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/index.htm.
b. Influenza Vaccine.
(1) Influenza vaccinations are offered in accordance with
recommendations from the CDC and its Advisory Committee on Immunization
Practices (ACIP), per references (b) and (c). ACIP recommendations for the
prevention and control of seasonal influenza with vaccines may be found at:
https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/acip-recs/vacc-specific/flu.html.
(2) Two influenza vaccines, Northern Hemisphere (NH) and Southern
Hemisphere (SH), are available based on service member location and timing
requirements as described in reference (b). The 2024-2025 influenza season
vaccine supply will consist of trivalent injectable vaccines. Intranasal
vaccine will not be provided through the central ordering process but will be
available through direct consultation with the Defense Logistics Agency if
necessary.
c. Influenza Vaccine Priority. U.S. Navy ships, operational assets, and
training commands have been identified by the DoD and Department of the
Navy(DoN) as vaccine priority groups for the 2024-2025 influenza season.
d. Influenza Vaccine Ordering and Distribution.
(1) Operational Forces Support Division (OFSD), Naval Medical
Readiness Logistics Command Detachment (NMRLC-Det), Fort Detrick is
responsible for ordering and distributing influenza vaccine for all Navy and
Marine Corps activities per reference (b). Additional quantities required
must be coordinated with the Vaccine Information and Logistics System (VIALS)
helpdesk at: usn.detrick.nmrlc-detftdmd.list.vialhelp@health.mil.
(2) VIALS is the online requisition system for seasonal influenza
vaccine. VIALS tracks requisitioned vaccine electronically via Military
Standard Requisitioning and Issuing Procedure (MILSTRIP) from requisition to
receipt. The VIALS website is common access card enabled and can be found at
https://gov-only.nmrlc.health.mil/int_code03/vials/.
(3) All Defense Health Agency (DHA) Military Treatment Facilities
(MTFs) will submit the influenza requirements for their MTFs and the Branch
Health Clinics that they support into the U.S. Army Medical Materiel Agency
ordering portal, per reference (b).
(4) All Fleet, United States Marine Corps Reserve units, and Navy
Reserve commands will continue to submit their requirements in VIALS, per
reference (b).
e. 2025-2026 Influenza Vaccine Requirements. The United States Army
Medical Materiel Agency Distribution Operations Center conducts a data call
for the following year's seasonal influenza virus vaccine requirements
annually in September. All requirements must be submitted prior to the
suspense date, established in the annual Medical Material Quality Control
Message (MMQC). The suspense date for submitting 2025-2026 influenza virus
vaccine requirements is 27 September 2024.
f. Influenza Vaccine Shipping. All commands will verify their correct
shipping address and two (2) points of contact information in VIALS to ensure
prompt delivery. Navy Fleet afloat will validate their shipping locations,
timeframes, and contact information.
g. Influenza Vaccine Integrity. All Influenza vaccine shipments include
temperature monitors. All monitors must be returned to the Defense
Logistics Agency-Troop Support Medical (DLA-TSM) cold chain office after
receipt, regardless of alarm status, per the included instructions and
shipping materials.
(1) No Alarm Status. The vaccine is ready for immediate use. Return
temperature monitor to DLA-TSM.
(2) Alarmed Status. Do not administer vaccine. Segregate the
vaccine in the refrigerator with a sign saying, "DO NOT USE". Return
temperature monitor to DLA-TSM and await disposition.
h. Influenza Vaccine Exercise. Influenza vaccination campaigns may
be used to exercise and evaluate mass vaccination scenarios in
coordination with Emergency Management personnel. These coordinated mass
vaccination campaign exercises provide vaccinations rapidly and efficiently
to protect the maximum number of susceptible persons. Process improvements
are made to delivery and reporting procedures based on lessons learned.
i. Vaccine Delivery. Due to vaccine demand and manufacturer
requirements, complete vaccine delivery may be incremental throughout the
season.
j. Influenza Vaccination Compliance.
(1) Navy Military Personnel. Seasonal influenza vaccination is
mandatory for all DoD uniformed personnel who are not medically or
administratively exempt, per references (a) through (d). The process for
requesting an exemption is described in references (a), (e) and (f). Any
refusal to receive the influenza vaccine, if a request for exemption has been
denied, will constitute a failure to obey a lawful order and may be
punishable under the Uniform Code of Military Justice and/or result in
administrative action. Prior to receiving the influenza vaccine, Navy Active
and Reserve Component personnel will have access to healthcare providers to
address questions or concerns with influenza vaccination. Commands must
consult with the servicing Staff Judge Advocate General for additional
guidance on influenza vaccination non-compliance.
(2) Navy Civilian Personnel. Influenza vaccination is required for
all civilian healthcare personnel as per references (b) and (c) and is
strongly encouraged for all other Navy civilian employees.
(3) TRICARE Beneficiaries. Reference (g) authorizes retail network
pharmacies to administer the seasonal influenza vaccine. TRICARE
beneficiaries may receive influenza vaccinations with no co-pay at authorized
retail network pharmacies. Beneficiaries are encouraged to contact the
pharmacy regarding age restrictions as some pharmacies do not administer the
influenza vaccine to individuals younger than 18 years of age.
k. Influenza Vaccination Reporting. Active and Reserve Component Navy
force vaccination administration compliance will be monitored via the Medical
Readiness Reporting System (MRRS). Designated command personnel will access
MRRS to track their personnel to ensure compliance.
(1) Shore-based commands will request access to MRRS based on their
unit identification code by submitting a system access authorization request
available at: https://mrrs.dc3n.navy.mil/mrrs/ (note: MRRS web address is
case sensitive). Point of contact: MRRS Program Office at e-mail:
mill_mrrs@navy.mil. Ship-based commands may utilize Navy Medicine Online
(NMO) or Shipboard Non-Tactical ADP Program (SNAP) Automated Medical System
(SAMS) to populate MRRS.
(2) Commands must ensure that documentation of influenza vaccine
administration is coded to accurately reflect the type of vaccine given.
(3) Afloat units will enter influenza immunizations into the SAMS /
Theater Medical Information Program for subsequent transfer to MRRS.
(4) All personnel who receive the vaccination from a retail network
pharmacy must provide documentation of vaccination no later than the next
duty or drill day to ensure compliance is appropriately recorded in their
electronic health records and MRRS. The following information will need to
be provided, at a minimum: date vaccine was administered, vaccine name or
code, manufacturer, expiration date, and lot number.
(5) Vaccination Timeline.
(a) Due to the risk of infection transmission within the unit and
impact on operations, it is imperative that the vaccine be given with as
minimal delay as possible. Active duty units have 72 hours (three business
working days) following receipt of the vaccine to document, begin
administering, and report vaccination. The 72-hour requirement begins
immediately only if the temperature monitor is in "no alarm" status upon
receipt; if in "alarmed" status the timed requirement begins once / if the
vaccine is cleared for use by DLA-TSM. If the 72-hour requirement cannot be
met, unit situation reports will be submitted to the respective Immediate
Superior in Command and Type Commanders. Situation reports are not required
if the temperature monitor is in alarmed status and the unit is awaiting
disposition from DLA-TSM.
(b) As Reserve Component Command schedules vary, NMRLC-Det and
DLA-TSM will coordinate to make every effort for the vaccine to arrive the
week of a drill weekend. Units have one drill weekend following receipt of
the vaccine to document, administer, and report vaccination if the
temperature monitor is in a "no alarm" status. If in "alarmed" status, the
timed requirement begins once / if the vaccine is cleared for use by DLA-TSM.
(6) Per paragraph 2.k, uniformed member compliance must be tracked in
MRRS. If desired, installations and MTFs may also use the Navy Family
Accountability and Assessment System (NFAAS) to conduct a Pandemic Influenza
response exercise in conjunction with the seasonal influenza vaccine program.
l. Navy Goals and Performance Standards.
(1) To ensure force medical readiness before peak influenza season,
all Navy operational units and Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Commands
/ Units will administer the 2024-2025 influenza vaccination to all eligible
Active and Reserve Component members (those without an approved medical or
administrative exemption) by 31 December 2024. Complete vaccine access will
be provided for all Navy family members (includes dependents, other
beneficiaries, and DoN civilians). Active coordination between command
leadership, public affairs officers, and medical personnel is necessary to
achieve success.
(2) Influenza Vaccination Performance Standards. The following goals
will be monitored:
(a) Navy VIALS reports 100 percent of shipped vaccine received
onboard by Fleet and Navy units by 1 December 2024.
(b) MRRS reports 100 percent of required Active and Reserve
Component personnel receive the seasonal influenza vaccine or an approved
exemption (medical or administrative) by 31 December 2024. Commands will
coordinate with the servicing MTF to align command-wide vaccination exercises
with Navy vaccination goals. Medical personnel at servicing MTFs will
promptly report vaccinations in MRRS.
m. DHA-Immunization Healthcare Division (DHA-IHD).
(1) The DHA-IHD provides an electronic resource center for vaccine
preventable diseases at https://www.health.mil/Military-Health-Topics/Health-
Readiness/Immunization-Healthcare. It contains guidance (in the form of
documents and templates) on vaccination storage and handling (to
include cold chain management tools), vaccine administration (to include
standing orders, vaccine product guides, and Vaccine Information Sheets
[VISs]), and adverse event reporting.
(2) The DHA-IHD 2024-2025 Seasonal Influenza Resource Center for
Health Care Personnel can be found at https://www.health.mil/Military-Health-
Topics/Health-Readiness/Immunization-Healthcare/Vaccine-Preventable-
Diseases/Influenza-Seasonal-Northern-Hemisphere#Flu.
(3) The DHA-IHD Immunization Healthcare Support Center can be reached
via phone at: 1-877-GET-VACC (1-877-438-8222); or via email at:
dodvaccines@mail.mil. The Support Center can provide clinical
consultation, to include assistance with questions regarding vaccine
screening and potential vaccine-related adverse events.
3. Released by Rear Admiral Darin K. Via, N093, Surgeon General of the
Navy.//
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