R 301858Z NOV 09

ALCOAST 682/09
COMDTNOTE 6010
SUBJ: H1N1 INFLUENZA VACCINE UPDATE
A. IMMUNIZATIONS AND CHEMOPROPHYLAXIS, COMDTINST M6230.4 (SERIES)
B. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 061543Z OCT O9/ALCOAST 582/09
1. LIMITED AMOUNTS OF H1N1 INFLUENZA VACCINE ARE NOW AVAILABLE AT
COAST GUARD (CG) CLINICS. 25,000 DOSES WILL BE DELIVERED THE WEEK
OF 30 NOV 2009 WITH ADDITIONAL DELIVERIES LATER IN DECEMBER.
2. THE H1N1 AND SEASONAL INFLUENZA VACCINES USE SIMILAR
MANUFACTURING PROCESSES AND ARE SAFE AND EFFECTIVE VACCINES. THE
MOST COMMON SIDE EFFECTS FOLLOWING FLU VACCINATION ARE MILD, SUCH
AS SORENESS, REDNESS, TENDERNESS OR SWELLING AT THE INJECTION SITE.
RARE ADVERSE EVENTS THAT MAY OCCUR WILL BE REPORTED IN THE SAME
MANNER AS OTHER VACCINES, USING THE VACCINE ADVERSE EVENT REPORTING
SYSTEM (VAERS) (PER REF A).
3. H1N1 INFLUENZA VACCINATION IS MANDATORY FOR ALL CG ACTIVE DUTY
(AD) AND SELECTED RESERVE (SELRES) PERSONNEL. THIS APPLIES TO
PERSONNEL WHO HAVE ALREADY EXPERIENCED INFLUENZA LIKE ILLNESS TO
PREVENT A RECURRENCE. COMPLIANCE DEADLINE FOR THE H1N1 INFLUENZA
VACCINATION IS 15 JAN 2010. THE INJECTABLE VACCINE WILL BE
ADMINISTERED INTRAMUSCULARLY, OVER THE DELTOID MUSCLE, AS A SINGLE
DOSE. FOR AVIATION PERSONNEL, INTRAMUSCULAR VACCINE IS SELF-
GROUNDING FOR 12 HOURS. THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT FOR AN UP-CHIT IF
THERE ARE NO COMPLICATIONS.
4. H1N1 INFLUENZA IMMUNIZATION FOR MILITARY MEMBERS SHALL BE
ENTERED INTO THE MEDICAL READINESS REPORTING SYSTEM (MRRS). ENSURE
H1N1 INFLUENZA IS SELECTED IN MRRS VICE SEASONAL INFLUENZA.
EXEMPTIONS TO THE H1N1 INFLUENZA IMMUNIZATION MAY BE CONSIDERED ON
A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS IN ACCORDANCE WITH REF A.
5. THE CG HAS RECEIVED A LIMITED QUANTITY OF NASAL SPRAY H1N1
VACCINE WHICH CAN BE USED FOR INDIVIDUALS AGES 2-49 YEARS WHO ARE
NOT PREGNANT AND DO NOT HAVE MEDICAL CONTRAINDICATIONS. THE NASAL
SPRAY VACCINE IS NOT AUTHORIZED FOR PERSONNEL ON ACTIVE FLIGHT OR
DIVING STATUS.
6. ELIGIBILITY: THE INITIAL VACCINE ALLOTMENT IS PREFERENTIALLY
TARGETED TO AD AND SELRES PERSONNEL IN THE PRIORITY GROUPING
DESCRIBED IN REF B AND THE FOLLOWING OPERATIONAL GROUPS (NOT IN
ORDER OF PRIORITY):
 A. CUTTERS
 B. AIR STATION PERSONNEL
 C. DEPLOYABLE OPERATIONAL GROUP UNITS
 D. SECTOR SMALL BOAT UNITS
7. ALTHOUGH OPERATIONAL FORCES ARE A PRIORITY, THE GOAL IS TO
VACCINATE ALL MILITARY MEMBERS AS SOON AS THE VACCINE BECOMES
AVAILABLE.
8. UNTIL THE FULL COMPLEMENT OF VACCINE IS RECEIVED, CG CIVILIANS
AND FAMILY MEMBERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO SEEK EARLIEST H1N1 INFLUENZA
VACCINATION THROUGH LOCAL PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAMS OR THEIR OWN
HEALTH CARE PROVIDER. WHEN THE H1N1 INFLUENZA VACCINATION PROGRAM
IS COMPLETED FOR AD AND SELRES PERSONNEL, ANY REMAINING VACCINE
WILL BE PROVIDED TO CIVILIANS AND FAMILY MEMBERS.
9. SICKBAYS SHALL WORK WITH THEIR SUPPORTING PHARMACY TO ENSURE
ADEQUATE VACCINE AVAILABILITY FOR AD AND SELRES IN THEIR AREA OF
RESPONSIBILITY (AOR).
10. FOR QUESTIONS PERTAINING TO THIS POLICY CONTACT CDR SCHWARTZ,
COMDT (CG-1121) AT (202)475-5172 OR ERICA.G.SCHWARTZ(AT)USCG.MIL.
FOR QUESTIONS REGARDING VACCINE ADMINISTRATION AND IMPLEMENTATION
CONTACT HEALTH, SAFETY AND WORK-LIFE SUPPORT ACTIVITY (HSWL
SUPACT), CAPT FAJARDO AT (510)637-1225 OR MARIO.E.FAJARDO(AT)
USCG.MIL OR CDR SALVON-HARMAN AT (757)628-4331 OR JEFFREY.C.
SALVONHARMAN(AT)USCG.MIL.
11. RADM MARK J. TEDESCO, DIRECTOR OF HEALTH, SAFETY AND
WORK-LIFE SENDS.
12. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.