Action Line Question and Answer

Question: Why is it that children at the Child Development Center are being required to get the H1N1 vaccination that hasn't been fully tested or they will not be allowed back into the CDC? What are the long term health hazards of the vaccination?

If you are making it mandatory for children and military members, why are you not making it a mandatory vaccination for the civilian work force? Wouldn't that be a way to ensure that there wouldn't be a widespread outbreak on the base? As of yet, the local community school districts have not made it a mandatory vaccination for their schools. Thanks.

Answer: 1. Thank you for your great question. It's not the first time it has been asked. Regarding pediatric vaccinations, the U.S. Air Force follows the Centers for Disease Control recommendations which are endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Air Force Joint Instruction 48-110 mandates this across the entire service. There is no room for interpretation at the local level. The joint instruction reads, "As a condition of employment or attendance at these facilities, schoolteachers, child care center workers, volunteers and children attending Department of Defense-sponsored primary and secondary schools, child care centers or similiar facilities are administered appropriate vaccines against communicable disease unless already immune (based on documented receipt of vaccine series or physician-diagnosed illness) or medically/administratively exempt.

2. Vaccine safety is a topic always at the forefront of the Centers for Disease Control. They work side-by-side with the Food and Drug Administration to ensure the public receives save and efficacious vaccinations. The CDC and FDA Web sites contain great information in this area and I urge you to visit them for additional information.

3. The civilian work force here at Hill Air Force Base is a critical part of our mission. We work closely with Davis and Weber counties to ensure vaccine is available for all civilians in the community. It's outside the scope of this office to accurately comment on the legalities surrounding mandatory civilian vaccinations. I'd like to thank you for your inquiry regarding the H1N1 vaccination program. I hope we've answered your questions. Please feel free to call us here at the 75th Medical Group Public Health Office anytime. Best regards,

Maj. Robert Martin, Flight Commander, Public Health, (801) 777-4514