DoD Influenza Surveillance Program

Develops Capabilities to Address Vaccine Shortages

The 2000 2001 influenza season began under the cloud of a developing crisis.  In July 2000, the

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that there would be a delay in delivering

vaccine and a possible shortage.  With little time before the influenza season began, the Brooks

Virology Laboratory (BVL) at Brooks Air Force Base, TX, quickly took a number of actions to

minimize the delay's effects.  BVL influenza data were extracted twice a week, and the DoD

Influenza Surveillance website was updated with the current influenza results to improve the

timeliness of information dissemination.  The development of a mapping function that shows

current influenza activity around the globe was another major step.  Using a world map (as

opposed to the US alone) created some challenges but a product was developed.  The timeliness

of the information made available a number of opportunities for decision making, such as the

reallocation of influenza vaccine to areas at highest risk if the vaccine delay or shortage was

affecting distribution.  The map represents cumulative influenza activity during FY01. 

Fortunately, the FY01 influenza season started out slowly and was relatively mild.  One of the

challenges of influenza is the unknown severity, in advance, of each influenza season. Had

there been a greater disease burden, it is likely that vaccine distribution would have been

altered to meet the needs of the areas most affected.  The world map of DoD influenza activity

would have played a key role in identifying those areas at highest risk and would have aided

the redistribution plan.

The DoD Influenza Surveillance Program continues to evolve to meet the challenges of the

disease and the military population it serves.  Collaboration with national and international

health organizations enhances its abilities, as well as its reputation, as a vital resource.

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