ALCOAST 266/20 - JUL 2020 2020 SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE (SH) INFLUENZA (FLU) IMMUNIZATION PROGRAM

R 081536 JUL 20
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CG-11//
TO ALCOAST
UNCLAS //N06230//
ALCOAST 266/20
COMDTNOTE 6230
SUBJ: 2020 SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE (SH) INFLUENZA (FLU) IMMUNIZATION PROGRAM
A. Immunizations and Chemoprophylaxis for the Prevention of Infectious Diseases,
COMDTINST M6230.4 (series)
B. Coast Guard Medical Manual, COMDTINST M6000.1 (series).
C. Coast Guard Occupational Medicine Manual, COMDTINST M6260.32 (series).
D. Defense Health Agency Interim Procedures Memorandum 20-002, Southern Hemisphere
Influenza Vaccination Program.
1. Flu vaccination is mandatory for all Coast Guard Active Duty (AD) and Selected
Reserve (SELRES) personnel to ensure force medical readiness and avoid disruption of
Coast Guard missions, in accordance with REFs (A) through (C). Traditionally this has
been the Northern Hemisphere (NH) flu vaccine. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) has licensed another formulation of seasonal flu vaccine for the SH.
2. REF (D) at https://www.health.mil/Reference-Center/Policies provides information
on the procurement, administration, storage, and handling of the SH flu vaccine. SH
flu vaccine is required for all active duty and reserve members of the CG that are
permanently or temporarily assigned for at least 14 days between the 1st of April
through the 30th of September to an area designated by the World Health Organization
(WHO) as part of the SH. The vaccine must be administered at least 2 weeks prior to
entry into a SH region. Personnel who received a SH flu vaccine and will reside or
travel to the NH between October and March, must also receive a NH flu vaccine
separated by at least 30 days from the SH flu vaccine.
3. To comply with financial policies, CG civilian employees and non-appropriated fund
(NAF) employees are not authorized to receive the flu vaccination at CG clinics.
4. REF (D) provides information regarding SH flu vaccine handling and disposition.
All CG health services personnel handling SH flu vaccine must be familiar with REF (D).
5. The flu vaccine, supplied by the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), Philadelphia, will
be ordered centrally by the Health, Safety, and Work-Life Service Center (HSWL SC) and
not individually by each unit. SH flu vaccine was centrally funded by Defense Health
Agency (DHA) for FY20.
6. This year’s seasonal NH flu vaccine (2019-2020) does not cover members traveling to
the SH, and those members must receive a SH flu vaccine if criteria detailed in REF (D)
are met.
7. Additional information on the SH flu is available at the DHA Immunization Healthcare
Division website: https://www.health.mil/SHflu, and at the WHO’s website:
https://www.who.int/influenza/vaccines/virus/recommendations/2020_south/en/.
8. The 2020 SH flu vaccine information for the Coast Guard is as follows:
Influenza virus vaccine (FLUZONE), Quadrivalent; 0.5 mL single dose prefilled syringe,
10 syringes without needles per package, for immunizing persons 6 months old and older,
preservative free.
9. All CONUS and OCONUS shipments of SH flu vaccine will include a temperature monitoring
device, that is to be deactivated upon receipt and forwarded immediately to DLA for
reading IAW REF (D). Instructions for return will be included in the flu vaccine shipments.
All units will comply with this requirement or vaccine may not be released for use. The
notation and forwarding of the tracking number will be forwarded to the HSWL SC vaccine
coordinator, CDR Benjamin C. Keller (contact info in paragraph 12).
10. Documenting the SH flu vaccine in MRRS will be conducted locally by the clinic HS or
IDHS attached to the respective unit. MRRS coding for the 2020 SH flu season is as
follows: CVX Code 201.
11. POC: CAPT Paul T. Michaud (CG-1121), 202-475-5171, Email: Paul.T.Michaud@uscg.mil.
12. POC: CDR Benjamin C. Keller (HSWL SC), 757-628-4331, Email: Benjamin.C.Keller@uscg.mil.
13. RADM Dana L. Thomas, Director, Health, Safety, and Work-Life, COMDT (CG-11), sends.
14. Internet release is authorized.