Anthrax Vaccine Immunization Program Pause
This MARADMIN directs an immediate pause of the Anthrax Vaccine Immunization Program (AVIP) for all Marine Corps personnel following a federal court injunction and Secretary of Defense directive. All anthrax vaccinations must stop immediately, including for personnel in the middle of the six-shot series, until legal issues are resolved.
Issued: October 29, 2004
1. THE PROVISIONS OF THIS MSG ARE APPLICABLE TO ALL ACTIVE COMPONENT AND RESERVE COMPONENT MARINES, EMERGENCY- ESSENTIAL AND MISSION-ESSENTIAL CIVILIAN AND CONTRACTOR PERSONNEL, AND DOD DEPENDENTS. 2. ON 27 OCTOBER 2004, THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA ISSUED AN INJUNCTION AGAINST THE CURRENT OPERATION OF THE ANTHRAX VACCINE IMMUNIZATION PROGRAM (AVIP). THIS IS SIMILAR TO THE TEMPORARY INJUNCTION ISSUED LAST DECEMBER, AT WHICH TIME DOD PAUSED THE VACCINATION PROGRAM PENDING CLARIFICATION OF THE LEGAL ISSUES. THIS NEW INJUNCTION IS BASED ON A CONCLUSION BY THE COURT THAT THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION (FDA) WAS REQUIRED BY ITS REGULATIONS TO SOLICIT ADDITIONAL PUBLIC COMMENTS BEFORE FINALIZING ITS CONCLUSION THAT THE ANTHRAX VACCINE IS SAFE AND EFFECTIVE FOR PROTECTION AGAINST INHALATION ANTHRAX. PENDING RESOLUTION OF THE LEGAL ISSUES SECDEF, IN REF A, HAS DIRECTED DOD TO STOP GIVING ANTHRAX VACCINATIONS UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. 3. IAW REF A, THE FOLLOWING ACTION IS EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY. A. STOP GIVING ANTHRAX VACCINATIONS TO ALL MILITARY AND CIVILIAN PERSONNEL, TO INCLUDE FAMILY MEMBERS. THIS APPLIES TO PERSONNEL NOT PREVIOUSLY VACCINATED AND PERSONNEL CURRENTLY UNDERGOING THE SIX SHOT BASIC SERIES AND ANNUAL BOOSTER, REGARDLESS OF THEIR CURRENT LOCATION. DO NOT IMPLEMENT VOLUNTARY VACCINATIONS VIA INFORMED CONSENT PROCEDURES AT THIS TIME. B. ENSURE ALL VACCINATIONS PREVIOUSLY ADMINISTERED ARE ACCURATELY RECORDED IN MEDICAL RECORDS AND ELECTRONICALLY SUBMITTED TO THE DEFENSE ELIGIBILITY ENROLLMENT SYSTEM (DEERS) VIA SERVICE AUTOMATED IMMUNIZATION TRACKING SYSTEM. C. COMMANDERS WILL INFORM ALL PERSONNEL OF THIS STOPPAGE. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/GUIDANCE FROM OSD IS EXPECTED AS THE LEGAL SITUATION IS CLARIFIED. D. CONSULT WITH YOUR COGNIZANT STAFF JUDGE ADVOCATE FOR ANY PENDING MILITARY JUSTICE ISSUES, I.E. REFUSAL CASES. 4. ALL ANTHRAX POLICY MEMOS, OSD GUIDANCE, AND CMC GUIDANCE MAY BE VIEWED AT WWW.VACCINES.ARMY.MIL OR THE HQMC SIPR WEBSITE WWW.HQMC. USMC.SMIL.MIL/PLN/PLN_HOME/HTM. 5. THIS MARADMIN IS APPLICABLE TO THE MARINE CORPS TOTAL FORCE.