Triple dose Published April 14, 2014 By Senior Airman Miles Wilson 94th Airlift Wing Public Affairs DOBBINS AIR RESERVE BASE, Ga -- With the update of the Department of Defense immunization guidelines comes a new requirement: more shots. All service members will now be required to receive the hepatitis B immunizations, in 3 doses. Since 2002, Air Force recruits have been given this vaccine during their basic military training, as well as most deploying Airmen and health care workers. However, approximately 10 percent of the active-duty force has not been vaccinated. Hepatitis B is a potentially fatal disease, spread by contaminated blood or bodily fluids, so those who have not been vaccinated are required to do so. The vaccine is given in 3 doses. The first dose is administered, and thereafter the member must wait at least 30 days before receiving dose 2. In order to be administered dose 3, the member must wait at least 60 days after receiving dose 2, and at least 120 days after receiving dose 1. The Aeromedical Services information Management System has been updated to comply with this requirement. It began appearing on service members' Individual Medical Readiness (IMR) lists on March 28. Members have 365 days to complete the three-shot series before they are flagged for non-compliance. A number of 94th Airlift Wing members have already been given the hepatitis B immunizations. "We began administering the shots during the April Unit Training Assembly," said Tech. Sgt. Yvette Nelson, 94th Aeromedical Staging Squadron medical technician. "We administer the shots when they are required." Service members can check their IMR status online by visiting the Air Force Surgeon Generals website at https://imr.afms.mil/imr/MyIMR.aspx.
