R 201844Z JUL 09 

ALCOAST 414/09
COMDTNOTE 6230
SUBJ: 2009-2010 SEASONAL INFLUENZA (FLU) IMMUNIZATION PROGRAM 
A. IMMUNIZATIONS AND CHEMOPROPHYLAXIS, COMDTINST M6230.4 (SERIES) 
1. ANNUAL SEASONAL FLU IMMUNIZATION IS MANDATORY FOR ALL COAST GUARD
(CG) ACTIVE DUTY (AD) AND SELECTED RESERVE PERSONNEL (SELRES) TO
ENSURE MILITARY FORCE MEDICAL READINESS AND AVOID DISRUPTION OF
MILITARY MISSIONS.
2. COMMANDING OFFICERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING PERSONNEL
IMMUNIZATION READINESS, INCLUDING THE SEASONAL FLU VACCINE. MEMBERS
MAY RECEIVE IMMUNIZATION AFTER 01AUG09 AS SUPPLIES BECOME
AVAILABLE. AD AND SELRES MEMBERS SHALL ACHIEVE 100 PERCENT
COMPLIANCE NLT 01 DEC 2009. THIS IS EARLIER THAN LAST YEAR BECAUSE
OF THE NEED TO PROTECT OUR POPULATION AGAINST SEASONAL INFLUENZA
BEFORE ANY SUBSEQUENT VACCINATION CAMPAIGNS AGAINST NOVEL PANDEMIC
INFLUENZA STRAINS. GUIDANCE ON NOVEL H1N1 INFLUENZA VACCINE WILL BE
ADDRESSED IN A SEPARATE MESSAGE.
3. SEASONAL FLU IMMUNIZATION FOR MILITARY MEMBERS SHALL BE ENTERED
INTO THE MEDICAL READINESS REPORTING SYSTEM. EXEMPTIONS TO THE FLU
IMMUNIZATION MAY BE CONSIDERED IN ACCORDANCE WITH REF A.
4. THERE ARE TWO SEASONAL INFLUENZA VACCINE OPTIONS NASAL SPRAY
(FLUMIST) OR INJECTABLE. FLUMIST CAN BE USED FOR INDIVIDUALS, AGES
2-49 YEARS, WITHOUT ANY MEDICAL CONTRAINDICATIONS. DISCUSS YOUR
MEDICAL HISTORY WITH YOUR PRIMARY CARE MANAGER (PCM) TO DETERMINE
THE BEST VACCINE CHOICE FOR YOU. FLUMIST IS NOT AUTHORIZED FOR
PERSONNEL ON ACTIVE FLIGHT OR DIVING STATUS.
5. ELIGIBILITY: AD, SELRES PERSONNEL, DEPLOYING CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES
AND CIVILIAN HEALTHCARE EMPLOYEES PROVIDING DIRECT PATIENT CARE ARE
THE HIGHEST PRIORITY GROUPS. OTHER DEERS-ELIGIBLE BENEFICIARIES
ENROLLED AT CG CLINICS AND DEEMED HIGH RISK BY CDC CRITERIA ARE THE
NEXT HIGHEST PRIORITY. SICKBAYS SHALL WORK WITH THEIR SUPPORTING
PHARMACY TO ENSURE ADEQUATE VACCINE AVAILABILITY FOR AD AND SELRES
IN THEIR AOR. CLINICS SHALL ORDER AN ADEQUATE AMOUNT OF VACCINE FOR
AD, SELRES, AND ENROLLED HIGH RISK BENEFICIARIES. ONCE THESE
PRIORITY POPULATIONS ARE IMMUNIZED, CLINICS MAY OFFER THE FLU
IMMUNIZATION TO ALL OTHER BENEFICIARIES, AND THEN ALL CG CIVILIAN
EMPLOYEES AS SUPPLIES ALLOW.
6. TAKING SIMPLE DAILY PRECAUTIONS CAN HELP PREVENT ILLNESS AND
TRANSMISSION OF SEASONAL FLU AND H1N1 FLU. COVER YOUR COUGH OR
SNEEZE, PRACTICE GOOD HYGIENE BY WASHING HANDS OFTEN AND USING
ALCOHOL BASED HAND SANITIZER, AND USING DISINFECTANT WIPES TO CLEAN
YOUR WORK AREA. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON SEASONAL INFLUENZA AND
PREVENTIVE MEASURES, GO TO THE CDC WEBSITE AT HTTP:WWW.CDC.GOV/FLU.
7.  POCS FOR THIS POLICY AT HSWL SUPACT IS CAPT MARIO FAJARDO
510-637-1319, MARIO.E.FAJARDO(AT)USCG.MIL AND AT CG-1121, CAPT
ANITA ARNOLD 202-475-5171, ANITA.F.ARNOLD(AT)USCG.MIL.
8. RADM MARK TEDESCO DIRECTOR OF HEALTH, SAFETY AND WORKLIFE,
SENDS.
9. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.