2026-27 Influenza Vaccine Guidance for Active and Reserve Components

1. Purpose.
Provide guidance to Marine Corps active and reserve components to 
implement the 2026-2027 Northern Hemisphere (NH) and Southern 
Hemisphere (SH) Influenza Vaccination Program for required 
personnel.
2.  Seasonal influenza is a highly contagious disease that has the 
potential to significantly impact force health and mission readiness. 
Two influenza vaccines, Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere, 
are available. The 2026-2027 influenza vaccine supply consists of 
trivalent injectable vaccines in prefilled syringes.  Operational 
Forces Support Division, Naval Medical Readiness Logistics Command
Detachment (NMRLC-Det), Fort Detrick is responsible for ordering
and distributing influenza vaccine for all United States Marine
Corps Forces and United States Marine Corps Forces Reserve
(MARFORRES). A timely comprehensive vaccination program for required
personnel must be enforced by Marine Corps leadership in order to
mitigate risk to force and mission.  
3.  Execution.
3.a. Per refs (a) and (b), Influenza Vaccine is optional except for
the following required personnel: 
(1) Initial entry training.  Per reference (c), initial entry
training includes all USMC personnel in enlisted entry training,
Officer Candidate School (OCS), United States Naval Academy, and
other officer accession programs. All personnel assigned to or 
participating in initial entry training will be required to receive 
the annual seasonal influenza vaccine.
(2) Healthcare personnel (HCP) with direct patient contact or 
exposure to patients. (3) Deployed personnel with influenza vaccine
theater or country requirements. (4) Marine Corps Security Force
Regiment and Chemical Biological Incident Response Force. (5) 
Civilian personnel employed in child development and youth services
programs. (6) Reserve Component (RC) HCP who provide
direct or indirect care to patients and those not directly involved
in patient care but potentially exposed to infectious agents that
can be transmitted to and from other HCP. 
(7) All RC Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Enhanced
Response Enterprise members, regardless of current order status. 
(8) RC personnel activated on title 10 orders for deployment will 
follow active-duty Service and Combatant Command theater entry 
requirements.  
(9) RC personnel on title 10 orders for formal military and/or 
nominative training in congregated settings will follow Military
Department requirements.  
3.b. Individual Vaccine Exemptions.  Per ref (d) and (f), Individual
service members may be granted vaccine exemptions
(medical or administrative).
3.c. Influenza-Like Illness Surveillance and Response. Per ref (g), 
the influenza vaccine is highly encouraged to prevent outbreaks 
that can degrade unit readiness, disrupt training schedules, and 
hinder deployment execution, which adversely impacts mission. 
Senior Medical Department Representatives (SMDR) must be prepared to
conduct surveillance of influenza-like illness and report and 
respond to local or command-wide outbreaks and hospitalizations. 
3.d. It is the command's responsibility to identify and track 
personnel who require the influenza vaccine per the criteria outlined
in paragraph 3.a.
3.d.1. Influenza Vaccination Reporting for Active Component (AC) and 
RC Naval Personnel with annual seasonal influenza vaccination 
requirements, per reference (a), will be monitored via the Medical
Readiness Reporting System (MRRS), per reference (h).  MRRS is the
authorized platform for tracking member compliance of personnel
required to receive the influenza vaccine as identified by the 
commander. Designated command personnel will access MRRS to track 
their personnel to ensure compliance. (1) Shore-based commands will
request access to MRRS based on their unit identification code by 
submitting a system access authorization request available 
at: https://mrrscloud.dc3n.navy.mil/mrrs/secure/welcome.m.
Point of contact: MRRS Program Office at 
e-mail: usn.mid-south.chnavpersmiltn.mbx.mill-mrrs@us.navy.mil.  
(2) Ship-based commands will utilize authorized electronic medical
systems to populate MRRS. 
(3) Commands must ensure that 
documentation of influenza vaccine administration is coded to 
accurately reflect the type of vaccine given. 
(4) All personnel who receive the vaccine from retail network
pharmacies must provide documentation of vaccination no later 
than the next duty or drill day to ensure compliance is 
appropriately recorded in their electronic health records and MRRS. 
The following information will need to be provided: date vaccine was
administered, vaccine name or code, manufacturer, expiration date, 
and lot number. Intranasal vaccine (FluMist) that is 
self-administered from a retail pharmacy will not be accepted.
(5) Vaccination Timeline. Units with influenza vaccination 
requirements per reference (a) have three working days following receipt
of vaccine shipment to document, begin administering, and report 
vaccination. If the 72-hour requirement cannot be met, unit 
situation reports will be submitted to the respective Immediate 
Superior in Command.
3.d.2. The Marine Corps active component shall ensure 100 percent of
personnel identified by the command in accordance with paragraph 
3.a. are compliant with DoW policy (vaccinated or approved
medical or administrative exemption) no later than 15 December 2026. 
Personnel reporting to a unit/command that requires the vaccine are
highly encouraged to receive the vaccine prior to arriving to their
new command. Personnel unable to receive the vaccine prior to 
reporting to their new unit/command will be in compliance no later
than 30 days after their report date. 
3.e. 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.f. 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.g. 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.h. 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.i. 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 usn.detrick.nmrlc-detftdmd.list.vialhelp@mail.mil,
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:(slash)(slash)vaers.hhs.gov/reportevent.html.
6. Additional Information.
6.a. 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.b. 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: dha.dodvaccines@health.mil.  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 Aug 27.
9. Release authorized by Lieutenant General Paul J. Rock Jr., 
Director, Marine Corps Staff.