Immunization Awareness
It's Wise to Immunize
The Military Health System recognizes August as Immunization Awareness Month. During the course of the month, the MHS partners with the Military Vaccine (MILVAX) Agency to encourage service members, veterans and family members to receive their scheduled vaccinations.
Proper immunization is an essential component of good, preventive health care because it can provide continuous protection against vaccine-preventable diseases. These diseases include, but are not limited to, hepatitis, tetanus, typhoid, measles, mumps and rubella.
Vaccinations are particularly important for at-risk populations, including service members, new mothers, infants, school-aged children and senior citizens. The priority vaccinations for each group are different and depend on age, lifestyle, and occupational factors, among other things. Regardless, everyone can benefit from keeping their vaccines current and their immunization records up-to-date.
Service Members: Vaccinations are an extremely important means of keeping service members deployment ready. Vaccine requirements vary across the service branches but the commonly required vaccines include smallpox and anthrax.
Infants and New Mothers: Most new parents are aware that the CDC recommends a series of vaccinations for infants. But did you know new mothers should get vaccinated, too? To best protect mother and child, the CDC recommends all new mothers receive the Pertussis (DTaP) immunization. For more information, download this parent's guide from the CDC. Also be sure to check out these common questions about infant immunizations. View this fact sheet for information about vaccine safety.
Senior Citizens: Although the Pneumococcal vaccination is most often recommended for young children, the CDC recommends it for anyone over 65, or for severe asthmatics and smokers. Additionally, the shingles vaccine is highly recommended for older adults.
School-Aged Children: Keeping up with back-to-school vaccinations can be challenging. Be sure to check your school’s requirements and consult your pediatrician. In addition to the required immunizations, the CDC now recommends that teenage girls receive the HPV vaccination to prevent HPV and many forms of cervical cancer.
Adolescent or Adult? Take this quiz to find out which vaccinations you might still need.
Click here for a schedule of recommended vaccinations. (PDF)
Use this page to find health care, research, education and training resources from throughout the MHS concerning immunizations.
Immunization Month E-Cards
Use these E-Cards to remind your loved ones about the importance of getting immunized!
Instructions to send an e-Card:
1. Click on the slideshow below
2. Click on the card you want to send
3. When you get to Flickr, click the "create a greeting card" link under the picture.
4. Don't forget to share these cards on your blog, Twitter or social network accounts!
Resources Across the MHS and Its Partners
Getting Your Benefit
 | TRICARE Immunization Benefits – TRICARE covers age-appropriate doses of vaccines, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention. |
MHS Organizations, Department of Defense and Beyond
 | The Military Vaccine Agency (MILVAX) - The Military Vaccine (MILVAX) Agency works to enhance military medical readiness and protect human health, by synchronizing information, delivering education, enhancing scientific understanding, promoting quality, and coordinating military immunization programs worldwide. Questions? Contact them at 877-GET-VACC. |
 | Immunization University – A service of MILVAX, provides training and materials for health care workers to make every immunization an excellent one. |
 | Armed Forces Health Surveillance Center – AFHSC performs comprehensive medical surveillance and reporting of rates of diseases and injuries among DoD service members. |
 | Force Health Protection & Readiness – Immunization Research and Resources - Immunizations are important tools that help protect the health of military personnel during their service. Whether it is a disease spread person-to-person in recruit training, or from the bite of an infected mosquito during deployments, or from exposure to a biological or chemical warfare agent, vaccines provide a safe and effective means of countering the threats to personal health and military readiness. |
 | HOOAH4Health - Deployment Immunizations and Information |
 | Military Infectious Diseases Research Program (MIDRP) - The mission of the Military Infectious Diseases Research Program (MIDRP) is to protect the U.S. military against naturally occurring infectious diseases via the development of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved vaccines, drugs, and diagnostic assays and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved vector control protection systems (to prevent transmission of infections by insects, ticks, etc.) |
 | Military OneSource -Military OneSource is a one-stop, 24/7 resource for service members and their families. Check out the following articles on immunization related topics. |
 | Navy & Marine Corp Public Health Center (NMCPHC) - Immunizations Information - A clearinghouse of resources about immunizations from the NMCPHC. |
 | Pandemic Influenza Watchboard - In an influenza pandemic, the DoD's mission is to preserve the U.S. combat capabilities and readiness and to support U.S. government efforts to save lives, reduce human suffering and slow the spread of infection. |
 | U.S. Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventative Medicine (CHPPM) |
 | Vaccine Healthcare Centers Network - The Vaccine Healthcare Centers (VHC) Network supports Warrior Care, Emergency Preparedness, and Military Readiness of the Department of Defense by acting as a specialized clinical support system for the development and implementation of programs, research, consultation, and services that enhance vaccine safety, efficacy, and acceptability. It serves as a center for military vaccine healthcare support and case management of vaccine adverse events, providing global access to clinical expert consultation services, which are available at all times and in any emergency. Contact the DoD Vaccine Clinical Call Center 24 hours a day 7 days a week at 1-866-210-6469 or log on to https://askvhc.wramc.amedd.army.mil. |
 | Uniformed Services University - The USU is the Nation's federal health sciences university and is committed to excellence in military medicine and public health during peace and war. The University Family Health Center is with medical experts at the clinic can manage Military, retirement childhood and insurance immunizations. |
 | Deployment Health Clinical Center - The DHCC’s mission is to improve deployment-related health by providing caring assistance and medical advocacy for military personnel and families with deployment-related health concerns. DHCC serves as a catalyst and resource center for the continuous improvement of deployment-related healthcare across the military healthcare system and the Center is a component of the Defense Centers of Excellence (DCoE) For Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury |
 | Joint Task Force National Capital Region Medical - The JTF CapMed oversees the delivery of integrated healthcare in the national capital region, ensure readiness, and execute the Base Realignment and Closure business plans to achieve the vision of establishing a world-class medical center at the hub of the nation's premier regional healthcare system serving our military and our nation. |
 | Veterans Health Administration National Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention (NCP) - Resources for Veterans and the Public – Immunizations/Vaccines See also Clinician Resources |
More Information
 | Center for Disease Control (CDC) |
 | Flu.gov – Know What to Do About the Flu |
 | Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Vaccine Education Center - The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia's Vaccine Education Center provides complete, up-to-date and reliable information about vaccines to parents and healthcare professionals. We provide videos, informational tear sheets, and information on every vaccine. |
 | Immunization Action Coalition (IAC) – Heavily funded by the CDC, the Immunization Action Coalition (IAC) works to increase immunization rates and prevent disease by creating and distributing educational materials for health professionals and the public that enhance the delivery of safe and effective immunization services. The Coalition also facilitates communication about the safety, efficacy, and use of vaccines within the broad immunization community of patients, parents, health care organizations, and government health agencies. Check out Needle Tips, IAC’s semi-annual newsletter on immunizations for all ages! Immunization Action Coalition information papers on specific diseases: Shingles (PDF) Pneumococcal (PDF) Pertussis (PDF) |
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