ALCOAST 367/25 - AUG 2025 2025-2026 NORTHERN HEMISPHERE (NH) ANNUAL INFLUENZA (FLU) IMMUNIZATION PROGRAM

R 291454Z AUG 25 MID120012022605U
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS
ALCOAST 367/25
SSIC 6230
SUBJ: 2025-2026 NORTHERN HEMISPHERE (NH) ANNUAL INFLUENZA (FLU)
IMMUNIZATION PROGRAM
A. Immunizations and Chemoprophylaxis for the Prevention of
Infectious Diseases, COMDTINST 6230.4G
B. Coast Guard Medical Manual, COMDTINST 6000.1F
C. Coast Guard Occupational Medicine Manual, COMDTINST 6260.32
D. Defense Health Agency Procedural Instruction 6025.34, Influenza
Vaccination Program
E. Military Religious Accommodations, COMDTINST 1000.15
1. Influenza ('flu') is a highly contagious respiratory illness with
the potential to significantly degrade operational readiness. Annual
vaccination is the most effective strategy to prevent the flu and
reduce its impacts. Additional activities to prevent the spread of
upper respiratory viruses include improved hand hygiene, social
distancing, and mask wearing.
2. Annual flu immunization is mandatory for all Coast Guard Active
Duty (AD) and Selected Reserve (SELRES) personnel to ensure force
medical readiness and avoid disruption to Coast Guard missions.
IAW REFs (A) through (D), the seasonal flu vaccine is also mandatory
for Child Development Center (CDC) personnel (including Family Child
Care Providers); civilian, contract, and auxiliary healthcare
personnel who provide direct patient care, and recreation personnel
in the youth programs at Borinquen, Cape Cod, Kodiak, and Petaluma.
Flu vaccination must be recorded no later than 15 December 2025.
3. Additional information about the 2025-2026 NH flu vaccine can be
found at the following website:
(Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)

https://www.cdc.gov/flu/season/2025-2026.html

4. The 2025 flu vaccine information provided to CG members is as
follows:
    a. Influenza virus vaccine (NH FLUZONE), Trivalent; 0.5 mL single
dose prefilled syringe, 10 syringes without needles per package, for
immunizing persons 6 months old and older, preservative free.
    b. Influenza virus vaccine (NH FLUCELVAX), Trivalent; 0.5 mL
single dose prefilled syringe, 10 syringes without needles per
package, for immunizing persons 6 months old and older,
preservative free.
5. Flu vaccinations are available at Coast Guard clinics for AD and
SELRES personnel and for Auxiliary healthcare personnel assigned to
Coast Guard clinics. A list of Coast Guard clinics supporting all
units in the Coast Guard can be found at the following website:
(Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)

https://www.tricare.mil/mtf

6. Documenting the NH flu vaccine in MRRS and MHS Genesis will be
conducted locally by the clinic HS or IDHS attached to the
respective unit. MRRS coding for the 2025-2026 annual flu season
is as follows:
    a. NH FLUZONE: CVX Code 140.
    b. NH FLUCELVAX: CVX Code 153.
7. Remotely assigned AD and SELRES personnel have several options
for obtaining flu vaccinations this season:
    a. Personnel who have TRICARE (including TRICARE Prime Remote and
TRICARE Reserve Select) may receive their vaccination from their
Primary Care Provider or from a pharmacy that accepts TRICARE. All
vaccines administered through the TRICARE network must be reported
to the servicing Coast Guard clinic or sickbay to ensure proper
recording.
    b. Remotely assigned AD and SELRES personnel may receive their
flu vaccination via the Remote Health Readiness Program (RHRP)
from an RHRP contracted clinic or, in the case of SELRES personnel,
using the RHRP Walgreens Walk-in option.
    c. An RHRP Walgreens Walk-in flu voucher can be ordered by SELRES
personnel directly from the RHRP Service Member Portal (SMP).
The downloaded voucher can be used at any Walgreens in the US.
The Walgreens flu voucher ordering will be in place via the SMP on
9/15/2025.
    d. The following are the steps for requesting a flu shot through
the RHRP SMP after 9/15:
       (1) Step 1: Go to the following URL and enter your username
and password:
(Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)

https://smp.qtcm.com/my.policy

       (2) Step 2: Once logged in, click "Order Walgreens Flu Shot"
under the banner Request Medical Services.
       (3) Step 3: Confirm that you want to order a flu shot by
clicking on "Yes, I confirm".
       (4) Step 4: Click "OK".
       (5) Step 5: Once the request is processed, click the "Voucher"
link on the dashboard and download for use at any Walgreens. Click
the download icon "Voucher- immunizations-Stand Alone, Influenza-
Injectable (ODC Cost)".
8. Contract personnel will obtain the flu vaccine according to the
terms of their contract.
9. All immunizations for civilian employees, including the seasonal
influenza immunization, shall be obtained through a private Health
Care Provider (HCP). Coast Guard civilian employees enrolled in the
Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) can be immunized
through their health plan at no out-of-pocket cost. Many FEHBP
health plans make the flu vaccine available in pharmacies and other
convenient community locations. Coast Guard Civil Service employees
who are not insured through the FEHBP and who are required to be
immunized against the flu must complete the Claim for Reimbursement
for Expenditures on Official Business, Form OF1164, in order to
obtain reimbursement from COMDT (CG-832). Ms. Regina Cash and Mr.
Felix Edozie are the COMDT (CG-832) POCs regarding the reimbursement
process. Upon obtaining immunization through a private HCP, civil
service employees who are required to have the flu vaccine must
provide the following information to the cognizant clinic
administrator NLT 15 December 2025: the date the vaccine was
administered, the vaccine name or code, the manufacturer and lot
number, the dose administered, route and site of vaccination, the
date the Vaccine Information Statement (VIS) was provided, and the
VIS version date.
10. For Non-Appropriated Funds (NAF) personnel, Coast Guard
Community Services Command is offering Walgreens flu shot vouchers
for CDC and Youth Program employees starting on 1 September 2025.
CDC and Youth Program supervisors will provide information about
this option. Otherwise, NAF employees may obtain the flu vaccination
through their NAF health insurance or other health insurance
coverage. Those employees who are not part of the NAF health
benefits plan and are mandated to obtain the flu vaccine must use
the Walgreens voucher if they wish to have their expenses covered.
If there are no Walgreens in the immediate area, employees,
IAW Paragraph 2 above, may complete Form OF1164 and submit the form
and the immunization receipt to their supervisor for approval and
submission to Paloma Evans, Paloma.Evans@cgexchange.org,
Human Resources Generalist. NAF employees who are required to have
the flu vaccine must provide appropriate documentation, as described
in Paragraph 2, to their supervisor NLT 15 December 2025.
11. Commanding Officers are responsible for ensuring medical
readiness, including compliance with the annual flu vaccine
requirement NLT 15 December 2025. Exemptions to the flu vaccine
requirement may be considered IAW REFs (A), (C), and (E).
12. POC: CDR Gretchen Buckler, Chief, Preventive Medicine and
Population Health, COMDT (CG-CMO-1), 202-394-4440,
Email: Aileen.G.Buckler@uscg.mil.
13. POC: CDR Jackie Finocchio, Pharmacy Program Manager,
COMDT (CG-CMO-1), (206) 820-3602, Jacklyn.M.Finocchio@uscg.mil.
14. POC: CDR Chris McKnight, Pharmacy Consultant, Health Care
Services Center (HCSC), (206) 820-5576,
Christopher.R.Mcknight@uscg.mil.
15. RADM Paul Jung, USCG Chief Medical Officer (CG-CMO), sends.
16. Internet release is authorized.