ADMINISTRATIVE MESSAGE
 
ROUTINE       
 
R 241523Z DEC 03 ZYB MIN PSN 756131J23
 
FM CNO WASHINGTON DC//DNS//
 
TO NAVADMIN
 
UNCLAS //N02300//
NAVADMIN 329/03
 
MSGID/GENADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/DNS/-/DEC//
 
SUBJ/TEMPORARILY STOP GIVING ANTHRAX IMMUNIZATIONS TO ALL DOD
/PERSONNEL//
 
REF/A/LTR/CNO (N09) WASHINGTON DC/YMD:20020628//
 
REF/B/MSG/CNO (N09) WASHINGTON DC/211314ZOCT2002//
 
REF/C/LTR/USD (P AND R)/YMD:20031223//
 
NARR/REF A DEPSECDEF MEMO ON REINTRODUCTION OF THE ANTHRAX VACCINE
IMMUNIZATION PROGRAM (AVIP).  REF B CNO (N09) NAVADMIN ON RESUMPTION
OF THE ANTHRAX VACCINE IMMUNIZATION PROGRAM.  REF C IS USD (P&R)
MEMO ON THE TEMPORARY SUSPENSION OF ANTHRAX VACCINE IMMUNIZATION
PROGRAM.//
POC/J. MITCHELL/CDR/CNO (N931D)/LOC:WASHINGTON DC/TEL:703-601-1717
/TEL:DSN 329-1717//
 
RMKS/1.  REFS A AND B PROVIDED AUTHORIZATION AND IMPLEMENTATION
GUIDANCE FOR RESUMPTION OF THE ANTHRAX VACCINE IMMUNIZATION PROGRAM
BASED ON THREAT ANALYSIS AND AVAILABILITY OF A SAFE, FDA-APPROVED
ANTHRAX VACCINE.  SINCE 1998, DOD HAS SAFELY VACCINATED OVER ONE
MILLION MILITARY, EMERGENCY-ESSENTIAL CIVILIANS, AND
MISSION-ESSENTIAL CONTRACTOR PERSONNEL TO PROVIDE VITAL PROTECTION
AGAINST ALL FORMS OF ANTHRAX DISEASE.
 
2.  ON DECEMBER 22, 2003, A JUDGE FROM THE U.S. DISTRICT COURT FOR
THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA ORDERED A PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION AGAINST
FURTHER ANTHRAX VACCINATIONS WITHOUT CONSENT OF THE INDIVIDUAL.  THE
JUDGE DID NOT RULE AGAINST THE SAFETY OF THE VACCINE, RATHER HE
RULED AGAINST THE COMPLETENESS OF THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION'S
(FDA) PROCESS TO APPROVE THE VACCINE FOR USE AGAINST INHALATION
ANTHRAX.
 
3.  IAW REF C THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS
ARE DIRECTED IMMEDIATELY.
 
A.  UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE, 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.
THIS APPLIES TO ALL PERSONNEL REGARDLESS OF THEIR CURRENT LOCATION.
FURTHER, DO NOT IMPLEMENT VOLUNTARY VACCINATIONS VIA INFORMED CONSENT
PROCEDURES AT THIS TIME.
B.  ENSURE ALL VACCINATIONS PREVIOUSLY ADMINISTERED ARE ACCURATELY
RECORDED IN THE MEDICAL RECORD AND ELECTRONICALLY SUBMITTED TO THE
DEFENSE ELIGIBILITY ENROLLMENT SYSTEM (DEERS) VIA SERVICE AUTOMATED
IMMUNIZATION TRACKING SYSTEMS.
C.  IMPLEMENT PUBLIC AFFAIRS ACTIONS THAT INFORM ALL PERSONNEL OF
THE NECESSITY OF THIS TEMPORARY SUSPENSION PENDING THE CLARIFICATION
OF THE LEGAL SITUATION.  INFORM ALL PERSONNEL THAT THE FOCUS OF THE
LEGAL RULING IS WHETHER THE VACCINE IS PROPERLY LICENSED FOR USE
AGAINST INHALATION ANTHRAX (NOT CUTANEOUS OR GASTROINTESTINAL), AND
NOT WHETHER THE VACCINE IS CONSIDERED SAFE.
D.  COMFLTFORCOM WILL CONSOLIDATE A REPORT ON THE INVENTORY OF ALL
UNOPENED VIALS OF ANTHRAX VACCINE FROM ALL MEDICAL DEPARTMENTS/
MEDICAL DEPARTMENT REPRESENTATIVES UNDER THEIR COG.  BUMED MEDICAL
TREATMENT FACILITIES WILL CONSOLIDATE AND REPORT THE INVENTORY OF
ALL UNOPENED VIALS OF ANTHRAX VACCINE TO THE NAVAL MEDICAL LOGISTICS
COMMAND (301-619-2159/DSN 343).  UNOPENED VIALS WILL BE STORED IN
PLACE UNTIL FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS ARE ISSUED.
 
4.  POCS FOR THIS MESSAGE ARE CDR JAMES MITCHELL (N931D)
(703-601-1717, DSN 329-1717, OR EMAIL JAMES.W.MITCHELL@NAVY.MIL) OR
LCDR KARI BUCHANAN (703-601-1716, DSN 329-1716, OR EMAIL
KARI.BUCHANAN@NAVY.MIL)
 
5.  EXPIRATION DATE CANNOT BE DETERMINED.
 
6.  RELEASED BY VADM P. A. TRACEY, DIRECTOR, NAVY STAFF.//
 
BT
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