Department of Defense (DoD) Vaccine Information Line

Learning Objectives for this Presentation:
By the end of the presentation participants will be able to:
1. Understand the overall effectiveness of the DoD Vaccine Information Line
2. Describe the utility of the toll-free DoD vaccine information line

Background:
The DoD has the responsibility to provide accurate and current vaccine related information through a centralized vaccine communication and information program. DoD needed an easy and accessible mechanism to provide accurate, concise, synchronized, and quality vaccine information to all Servicemembers and other DoD beneficiaries located throughout the world.

Setting:
Calls are answered by trained communication analysts with a combined total of 92 years of experience from service in the Army, Navy, and Air Force immunization programs. The vaccine information line is staffed weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. Calls received after hours are diverted to a voicemail box and returned the next business day.

Population:
Sample population included 5,474 individuals, 49% were male, 34% were female, and 17% undocumented. Each military service was represented, Army (20%), Air Force (12%), Navy (9%), Marine Corps (2%), Coast Guard (1%) and 56% are unknown. Categories of callers included: Active Duty (29%), Reserve/National Guard (9%), DoD Beneficiaries (5%), and others to include veterans, media, and civilians (57%).

Project Description:
The DoD established the toll-free vaccine information line to enhance military medical readiness by providing synchronized policy information, and coordinate military immunization programs worldwide.

Results/Lessons Learned:
The most frequent requests for information are: civilian access to DoD vaccinations (28%), policy (13%), training-aids (9%), disease threats (8%), vaccine safety (6%), educational materials (6%), dosing schedules (4%), contraindications/exemptions (4%), side-effects (4%), DoD brochure requests (3%) and various other topics (15%).
Since 1999 the DoD Vaccine Information Line has provided synchronized vaccine information to all Servicemembers and beneficiaries in the United States and around the globe.