J Korean Med Sci.  2015 Apr;30(4):353-359. 10.3346/jkms.2015.30.4.353.

Vaccination Policy in Korean Armed Forces: Current Status and Future Challenge

• Heo JY
• Choe KW
• Yoon CG
• Jeong HW
• Kim WJ
• Cheong HJ

• KMID: 2164440
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2015.30.4.353

Abstract

Infectious diseases have historically resulted in suspended or cancelled military operations. Vaccination for disease prevention is a critical component of the military's force readiness doctrine. Until recently, Korea had not recognized the importance of vaccinating military personnel. However, a 2011 meningococcal disease outbreak at an army recruit training center led to dramatic changes in the paradigm of traditional medical practice in the Korean armed forces. A new vaccination policy was formed by a 2012 Military Healthcare Service Act. Since then, Neisseria meningitidis, hepatitis A, and measles-mumps-rubella vaccines have been routinely administered to all new recruits early in basic training to ensure protection against these diseases. All active-duty soldiers also receive seasonal influenza vaccination annually. Despite quantitative improvements in vaccination policies, several instances of major infectious diseases and adverse vaccine reactions have threatened soldier health. In the future, vaccination policies in the Korean armed forces should be based on epidemiologic data and military medical research for vaccine use and safety management.

Keyword

Vaccination; Military Medicine; Military Personnel; Policy; Meningococcal Disease; Influenza; Hepatitis A; Measles-Mumps-Rubella

MeSH Terms

Health Policy
Hepatitis A Vaccines/immunology
Humans
Influenza Vaccines/immunology
Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine/immunology
Meningococcal Vaccines/immunology
*Military Personnel
Republic of Korea
*Vaccination
Hepatitis A Vaccines
Influenza Vaccines
Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine
Meningococcal Vaccines

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Number of reported HFRS cases and Hantavax® consumption in Korean military personnel, 1990-2012.

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  Fig. 2 Incidence of Influenza-like Illness (ILI) in Korean military and civilian population, 2011-2012. aILI cases per 1,000 patients-week; bLaboratory-confirmed influenza cases per 10,000 patients-week on military hospitals.

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  Fig. 3 Number of reported mumps and measles cases in Korean Armed Forces, 2003-2013.

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  Fig. 4 Trend of vaccination budget in Korean Armed Forces between 2002 and 2012.

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