Skip main navigation

Military Health System

Clear Your Browser Cache

This website has recently undergone changes. Users finding unexpected concerns may care to clear their browser's cache to ensure a seamless experience.

Surveillance Snapshot: Influenza Immunization Among U.S. Armed Forces Healthcare Workers, August 2015–April 2020

Image of cover 3. NORFOLK (Oct. 15, 2019) Lt. Sipriano Marte administers an influenza vaccination to Airman Tyler French in the intensive care unit aboard the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3). Kearsarge is underway conducting routine training. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Petty Officer 3rd Class Jacob Vermeulen/Released)

The U.S. Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends that all healthcare personnel be vaccinated against influenza to protect themselves and their patients.1 The Joint Commission’s standard on infection control emphasizes that individuals who are your infected with influenza virus are contagious to others before any signs or symptoms appear. The Joint Commission requires that healthcare organizations have influenza vaccination programs for practitioners and staff and that they work toward the goal of 90% receipt of influenza vaccine. Within the Department of Defense, seasonal influenza immunization is mandatory for all uniformed personnel and for healthcare personnel who provide direct patient care and is recommended for all others (excluding those who are medically exempt).2–4 

This snapshot covers a 5-year surveillance period (August 2015–April 2020) and presents the documented percentage compliance with the influenza immunization requirement among active component healthcare personnel of the Army, Navy, and Air Force. During the 2019–2020 influenza season, each of the 3 services had compliance rates of 93.3% or higher among healthcare personnel (Figure). For all services together, the compliance rate was 95.0%, very similar to the rate from the previous year.

References

  1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Immunization of health-care personnel: recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). MMWR Recomm Rep. 2011;60(RR-7):1–45.
  2. Headquarters, Departments of the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, and the Coast Guard. Army Regulation 40-562, BUMEDINST 6230.15B, AFI 48-110_IP, CG COMDTINST M6230.4G. Medical Services: Immunizations and Chemoprophylaxis for the Prevention of Infectious Diseases. 7 October 2013. 
  3. Assistant Secretary of Defense (Health Affairs). Policy for Mandatory Seasonal Influenza Immunization for Civilian Health Care Personnel Who Provide Direct Patient Care in Department of Defense Military Treatment Facilities. Health Affairs Policy 08-005. 4 April 2008. 
  4. Assistant Secretary of Defense (Health Affairs). Addition of Pandemic Influenza Vaccine or Novel Influenza Vaccine to the Policy for Mandatory Seasonal Influenza Immunization for Civilian Health Care Personnel Who Provide Direct Patient Care in Department of Defense Military Treatment Facilities. Health Affairs Policy 11-010. 28 July 2011.

FIGURE. Percentage of healthcare specialists and officers with records of influenza vaccination, by influenza year (1 August through 30 April) and service, active component, U.S. Armed Forces, August 2015–April 2020

You also may be interested in...

Article
Jan 1, 2024

Ivermectin Prescription Fill Rates Among U.S. Military Members During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic

This report describes ivermectin prescription fill rates among U.S. active component service members over time during the early phases of the COVID-19 pandemic. Ivermectin prescription fill rates increased among active component service members early in the COVID-19 pandemic when misinformation about the effectiveness of ivermectin for prevention and ...

Article
Jan 1, 2024

Brief Report: The Four Most Frequently Diagnosed Vector-borne Diseases Among Service Member and Non-Service Member Beneficiaries in the Geographic Combatant Commands, 2010–2022

This report provides linear trends of selected vector-borne diseases, over a 13-year surveillance period, among Armed Forces service and non-service member beneficiaries diagnosed at installations within the Northern Command (NORTHCOM), Africa Command (AFRICOM), Central Command (CENTCOM), European Command (EUCOM), Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM), or ...

Article
Jan 1, 2024

Reportable Medical Events at Military Health System Facilities Through Week 48, Ending November 30, 2023

Each month the MSMR publishes an update of reportable medical events documented in the Disease Reporting System internet by health care providers and public health officials throughout the Military Health System, for monitoring, controlling, and preventing the occurrence and spread of diseases of public health interest or readiness importance.

Article
Dec 1, 2023

Reportable Medical Events at Military Health System Facilities Through Week 44, Ending November 4, 2023

Chlamydia, by far the most frequently reported medical event (RME) with the MHS, declined by 17% in October, to 1,190 cases, from 1,437 cases (adjusted) in September; this follows a 15% decline from August to September. Gonorrhea, the second highest RME, declined 15% in October, to 192 cases reported cases in September, from 225 cases (adjusted). ...

Skip subpage navigation
Refine your search
Last Updated: July 11, 2023
Follow us on Instagram Follow us on LinkedIn Follow us on Facebook Follow us on X Follow us on YouTube Sign up on GovDelivery