R 091505Z OCT 25 MARADMIN 483/25 MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC// SUBJ/2025-2026 INFLUENZA VACCINE GUIDANCE FOR ACTIVE AND RESERVE  COMPONENTS// REF/A/DOC/USD P&R WASHINGTON DC/23JUL19// REF/B/DOC/BUMED WASHINGTON DC/07OCT13// REF/C/DOC/DHA WASHINGTON DC/21AUG20// REF/D/DOC/CNO WASHINGTON DC/22NOV16// REF/E/DOC/32 CFR PART 199.21/01DEC16// REF/F/DOC/CDC/MMWR RECOMMENDATIONS AND REPORTS NO. 5/29AUG2024// REF/G/DOC/DEPSECDEF WASHINGTON DC/29MAY25// NARR/REF A IS DODINST 6205.02, DOD IMMUNIZATION PROGRAM. REF B IS BUMEDINST 6230.15B, IMMUNIZATIONS AND CHEMOPROPHYLAXIS FOR THE PREVENTION OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES. REF C IS DEFENSE HEALTH AGENCY (DHA) PROCEDURAL INSTRUCTION 6025.34, GUIDANCE FOR THE DOD  INFLUENZA VACCINATION PROGRAM. REF D IS OPNAVINST 3710.7V, NAVAL AIR TRAINING AND OPERATING PROCEDURES STANDARDIZATION GENERAL  FLIGHT AND OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS. REF E IS THE CIVILIAN HEALTH  AND MEDICAL PROGRAM OF THE UNIFORMED SERVICES (CHAMPUS)/TRICARE:  TRICARE PHARMACY BENEFITS PROGRAM. REF F IS THE CENTERS FOR  DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION (CDC) RECOMMENDATIONS FOR 2025-2026 INFLUENZA SEASON.  REF G IS A MEMO FROM DEPUTY SECRETARY OF DEFENSE WITH UPDATED POLICY ON SEASONAL INFLUENZA IMMUNIZATIONS// POC/SMITH, ALFRED/CDR/HQMC/HS/DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH/ TEL:703-697-0424/EMAIL:[email protected]// POC/BALISI, FRANCISPAUL/HM1/HQMC/HS/MRRS COORDINATOR/ TEL:703-697-0424/EMAIL: [email protected]// GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  Purpose.  Provide guidance to Marine Corps  active and reserve components to implement the 2025-2026 Northern  Hemisphere (NH) and Southern Hemisphere (SH) Influenza Vaccination  Program. 2.  Background.  Seasonal influenza is a highly contagious disease that has the potential to significantly impact force health and  mission readiness.  A timely comprehensive vaccination program must  be enforced by Marine Corps leadership in order to mitigate risk to  force and risk to mission.  Maximum vaccination of the force reduces transmission of disease, and reduces severity of disease in  personnel who become infected.  3.  Execution. 3.a.  Per refs (a), (b), and (c), all Marine Corps active duty  component personnel shall receive the 2025-2026 seasonal influenza  vaccine(s) unless medically or administratively exempt.  The Marine Corps active component shall ensure 100 percent of personnel are  compliant with DoD policy (vaccinated or approved medical  or administrative exemption) no later than 15 December 2025. The Marine Corps reserve component shall vaccinate at least 90  percent of required personnel no later than the DoD goal of  15 January 2026.  See ref (g) for specific guidance regarding  requirements for reserve component personnel. 3.b.  Per encl (3) of ref (c), Marine Corps personnel shall  receive the seasonal NH influenza vaccine if they will be assigned,  permanently or temporarily, more than 14 days in the NH influenza  zone between 1 October 25 and 30 March 26.  Marine Corps personnel shall receive the seasonal SH influenza vaccine if they will be assigned more than 14 days in the SH influenza zone between 1 April 26 and 30 September 26 (see ref (c), appendix (5), for a  list of applicable countries).  If personnel require vaccination  with both hemisphere vaccines, administration should be separated  by a minimum of 30 days. 3.c.  Operational forces and training commands are prioritized for  receipt of influenza vaccine by the Department of the Navy.   Marine Corps component commanders and surgeons shall coordinate  with supporting Military Treatment Facilities (MTFs) to ensure  operational forces and training commands receive priority  administration from influenza vaccine shipments.  Commanders should  prioritize vaccination of deploying forces, recruits and instructors  at recruit depots, and healthcare providers assigned to Marine Corps units. 3.d.  Commanders should advise Marine Corps civilian employees that  the influenza vaccine is also available to them at retail  pharmacies, without cost or copay, as a benefit of the Federal  Employee Health Benefits program.  See paragraph 6.a for additional  information. 3.e.  Marine Corps active and reserve component commands shall  monitor influenza vaccination compliance via the Medical Readiness  Reporting System (MRRS), and coordinate with supporting MTFs to  ensure seasonal influenza vaccination compliance no later than the  deadlines in paragraph 3.a. 3.f.  Marine Corps components will document administration of  influenza vaccine for all personnel in the Electronic Health  Record (EHR) preferentially, but may document vaccination  directly in MRRS if the units do not have ready access to the EHR.   Vaccination shall be documented within one (1) business day of  administration to ensure timely and accurate daily monitoring of Force  compliance with this MARADMIN.  3.g.  Personnel who receive influenza vaccination from non-military  facilities (e.g., civilian pharmacies) shall provide verification  and details to their supporting MTF or command MRRS representative  no later than 1600 on the next regular duty day (see paragraph 6.a). 3.h.  If a command does not have authorized personnel with access  to MRRS, contact the local MRRS security officer or the  Headquarters Marine Corps Health Services MRRS point of contact  (POC) listed in this message for further assistance. 3.i.  Medical exemptions will be entered in MRRS only when an  individual has a valid exemption for the influenza vaccine, as  determined by a licensed healthcare provider.  See refs (b) and (c)  for details regarding exemptions and required evaluation of personnel reporting a history of allergic reaction to the influenza vaccine. 3.j.  Administrative exemptions are a non-medical command  determination and will be entered in MRRS in accordance with  ref (b).  Units are advised to refrain from temporary exemptions due to temporary assigned duty (TAD) status in order to avoid erroneous  exemptions and ensure compliance with ref (a).  4.  Vaccine Handling and Administration. 4.a.  Commanders shall ensure that all medical personnel assigned  to Marine Corps units who handle and/or administer influenza vaccine receive appropriate annual training and that competencies are  documented.  Commanders shall also establish procedures for proper  handling and storage of influenza immunization stock in accordance with (IAW) ref (c) and regional policy and practices of the supporting MTF. 4.b.  Only appropriately trained and qualified personnel, working  under signed orders of an appropriately privileged healthcare  provider, will administer the influenza vaccine. 4.c.  All personnel handling and/or administering influenza vaccine  shall receive training in cold-chain management and have a signed  competency form verifying competency in all aspects of the influenza vaccine products being utilized.  Training can be accessed via  Joint Knowledge Online (DHA-US070), and additional comprehensive  resources are available at www.health.mil/vaccines. 4.d.  Influenza vaccines shall be stored and transported, at all  times, with appropriate temperature monitoring. 4.e.  Any time that a temperature compromise is known or suspected,  immediately place that vaccine in a proper storage container at the  proper temperature, and clearly label “DO NOT USE.”  Do not discard  the vaccine unless directed by Defense Logistics Agency-Troop  Support Medical (DLA-TSM).  Notify the supporting MTF,  Naval Medical Readiness Logistics Command (NMRLC) vaccine service representative at [email protected], and the  appropriate DHA immunization healthcare specialist. Complete a DHA Form 177, Potentially Compromised Temperature Sensitive Medical  Provider Worksheet.  DLA-TSM will advise on disposition of the  vaccine. 4.f.  Commands with excess influenza vaccine that will not be used  prior to expiration shall notify their supporting MTF, NMRLC vaccine  service representative, and DHA Immunization Healthcare Specialist,  who may direct redistribution. 4.g.  Prior to vaccination, all personnel being vaccinated shall be  screened by medical personnel using DHA Form 116 and shall be  provided the current Vaccine Information Statement (VIS) for the  product being administered. 4.h.  Aircrew will require a period of grounding specific to the  product being administered, per ref (d). 5.  Adverse Reactions.  Local swelling, injection site soreness,  and headache are common influenza vaccine side effects that resolve  quickly.  These symptoms, along with fever, fatigue, and muscle  aches may occur within 6-12 hours of vaccination, and may persist  for 1-2 days.  More severe allergic reactions, while rare, shall be  evaluated by medical personnel and reported through the Vaccine  Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) at:  https://vaers.hhs.gov/reportevent.html. 6.  Additional Information. 6.a.  Per ref (e), TRICARE Prime beneficiaries, including all  active duty service members, may utilize TRICARE-authorized  pharmacies to receive the seasonal influenza vaccine at no cost.   Participating pharmacies may be found at:  https://militaryrx.express-scripts.com/find-pharmacy.   Personnel utilizing this option shall provide their supporting MTF  and/or MRRS representative documentation of the manufacturer,  lot number, amount and location given (right arm, left arm), and  date of administration.  Command medical personnel and/or MRRS  representatives must ensure that documentation of influenza vaccine  administration is coded to accurately reflect the type of vaccine  given. 6.b.  The DHA’s influenza vaccine resource center can be found  at www.health.mil/vaccines, and contains guidance documents and  templates to include standing orders, vaccine product guides and  VISs, and cold chain management tools. 6.c.  The Defense Health Agency-Immunization Healthcare Division  (DHA-IHD) Immunization Healthcare Support Center can be reached  at: 1-877-GET-VACC (1-877-438-8222); or via email  at:  [email protected].  The Support Center can provide clinical consultation, to include assistance with questions regarding vaccine screening and potential vaccine-related adverse events. 7.  This MARADMIN is applicable to the Marine Corps Total Force. 8.  This MARADMIN is cancelled 1 August 26. 9.  Release authorized by Lieutenant General Paul J. Rock Jr.,    Director, Marine Corps Staff.//