title: Vaccination policy in Korean armed forces: current status and future challenge.
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.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Chungbuk National University Hospital, Cheongju, Korea.
authors.forename: Jung Yeon
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-6548-1939
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Heo
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, The Armed Forces Capital Hospital, Seongnam, Korea.
authors.forename: Kang-Won
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-2003-6492
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Choe
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, The Armed Forces Medical Command, Seongnam, Korea.
authors.forename: Chang-Gyo
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Chungbuk National University Hospital, Cheongju, Korea.
authors.forename: Hye Won
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University Kuro Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Woo Joo
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University Kuro Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hee Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Cheong
mesh_terms: D006291:Health Policy; D022362:Hepatitis A Vaccines / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000276:immunology; D022542:Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine / Q000276:immunology; D022401:Meningococcal Vaccines / Q000276:immunology; D008889:Military Personnel; D056910:Republic of Korea; D014611:Vaccination
chemical_list: D022362:Hepatitis A Vaccines; D007252:Influenza Vaccines; D022542:Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine; D022401:Meningococcal Vaccines
keywords: Hepatitis A; Influenza; Measles-Mumps-Rubella; Meningococcal Disease; Military Medicine; Military Personnel; Policy; Vaccination
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