DoD Policy: Less than 180 days to ETS, no vaccine.

[Guest guest]

MAR 06 2000

MEMORANDUM FOR SECRETARY OF THE ARMY

SECRETARY OF THE NAVY

SECRETARY OF THE AIR FORCE

SUBJECT: Total Force Personnel Policy for Administrative Exemptions

from the Anthrax Vaccination Immunization Program (AVIP)

T Reference memoranda: Secretary of Defense, 18 May 1998, subject:

Implementation of the Anthrax Vaccination Program for the Total

Force; and Under Secretary of defense, 30 March 1999, subject: Change

to AVIP Operational Procedure (One-Day Policy).

The Secretary of Defense has directed immunizations against anthrax

for all U.S. service members and Department of Defense (DoD)

emergency-essential (E-E) civilians and contractors personnel in

three phases of execution, beginning with personnel at highest risk.

The following provides criteria for administrative exemptions for

selected military and non-military personnel (U.S. service members,

DoD E-E civilians and E-E contractor personnel). It does not apply to

medical exemptions nor otherwise change the requirement for

vaccination of personnel under the AVIP. Immunization requirements

will be incorporated into the E-E contracts concerned.

This administrative exemption is applicable to retiring and

separating personnel (without Reserve Component (RC) obligations and

who do not plan to immediately re-enlist) and civilian employees and

contractor personnel leaving a position subject to the AVIP with 180

days or less of service or employment remaining. This administrative

exemption does not apply to personnel whom the commander determines

shall receive the vaccine because of overriding mission requirements.

The Service Secretaries shall designate exemption authority for

service members and E-E civilians and contractors. Commanders shall

exempt from the AVIP personnel separating within 180 days (as

described further below) who meet all of the following conditions:

(a) they are not currently assigned or deployed to a Joint Staff

designated high threat area; ( they are not scheduled to perform

duty in a designated high threat area (including temporary duty); or

© the commander has not directed vaccination because of overriding

mission requirements. Personnel who meet these criteria should

immediately identify themselves to their supervisors and commanders.

With respect to calculation of the 180-day period, the following

specifications apply. For retiring or separating military personnel

(except Selected Reservists completing their Active Duty for Training

or active Duty for Special Work), the applicable period is 180 days

prior to their approved date of retirement or separation. RC members

must have approved retirement orders to be effective within 180 days,

reassignment date to the Non-Participating IRR/NARS, or expirations

of enlistment within 180 days prior to consideration for exemption

from the series. Those personnel who are separating from active duty

but continuing service with the RC must continue the entire series

regardless of the mobility status. For E-E civilian employees and

contractor personnel subject to the AVIP because of performance of

essential contractor services, the applicable period is 180 days

prior to the effective date of retirement, resignation, separation or

reassignment out of a position subject to the AVIP.

The policy is effective no later than 60 days from the date of this

memorandum for Service members and civilian personnel who are not

members of the bargaining unit. Civilian personnel affected by this

policy who are members of bargaining units will be considered for

exemption once all statutory and contractual labor relations

obligations have been met.

Alphonse Maldon, Jr.

cc:

Surgeon General of the Army

Surgeon General of the Navy

Surgeon General of the Air Force

Director of the Joint Staff

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