R 291717Z OCT 04
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC(uc)
TO AL MARADMIN(uc)
MARADMIN
BT
UNCLASSIFIED
MARADMIN 479/04
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC PPO PL//
SUBJ/ANTHRAX VACCINE IMMUNIZATION PROGRAM PAUSE//
REF/A/DOC/SECDEF MEMO/YMD:20041027//
AMPN/REF A IS SECRETARY OF DEFENSE MEMO DIRECTING THAT DOD WILL STOP
GIVING ANTHRAX VACCINATIONS UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.//
POC/BETHEL D. A./LTCOL/CMC WASHINGTON DC PPO PL/LOC:PENTAGON
/TEL:703-695-0221 DSN 225/EMAIL:BETHELDA@HQMC.USMC.MIL//
POC/MCMILLAN D./CMDR/HQMC HS PREVENTIVE MED/LOC:HQMC
/TEL:703-614-4477 DSN 224/EMAIL:MCMILLANDL@HQMC.USMC.MIL//
POC/KAY S. H./LTCOL/HQMC PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFF/LOC:HQMC
/TEL:703-8010 DSN 224/EMAIL:KAYSH@HQMC.USMC.MIL//
POC/COLWELL J. P./LTCOL/HQMC JUDGE ADVOCATE/LOC:PENTAGON
/TEL:703-614-4250 DSN 224/EMAIL:COLWELLJP@HQMC.USMC.MIL//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/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.//