For additional information and resources, including the IHD Vaccine Resource Center, visit Inside DHA (SharePoint) (CAC authentication required).

The Defense Health Agency Immunization Healthcare Division serves as the centralized immunization healthcare resource for DOD healthcare providers and beneficiaries. IHD supports DOD immunization programs and provides clinical consultative services, educational support, and training resources for the entire DOD family.

Goals

• Support Force Health Protection and Readiness and the Military Health System by developing and promoting programs and services that enhance immunization effectiveness, safety, and acceptability.
• Provide evidence-based solutions that improve immunization healthcare through policy implementation guidance, strategic communication, education, training, and clinical services worldwide.

Clinical Support

• Serve as the primary medical consultation resource for clinical immunization healthcare issues, including suspected immunization-associated adverse events and case management services for MHS healthcare providers with complex immunization healthcare-related questions
• Operate DOD Immunization Healthcare Support Center – providing worldwide access to clinical staff with expertise in immunization screening and schedules, as well as management of administration errors and complex adverse reactions.
• Provide comprehensive monitoring of adverse events following immunizations for all DOD beneficiaries.
• Support DHA and service immunization information management systems to meet national standards for storage of immunization data to facilitate safe and effective vaccine administration.

Policy Implementation Guidance

• Develop standardized clinical and implementation guidance for the quality delivery of immunizations across the DOD.
• Manage the synchronization and implementation of force health protection immunization policies.
• Provide immunization healthcare operational support to the services and combatant commands.

Immunization Program Quality Assurance

• Promote excellence in standards of practice and advocate for evidence-based practice improvements in immunization healthcare.
• Ensure MHS healthcare personnel have all available resources and are trained in vaccine policy, vaccination safety, and effectiveness based on national and DOD guidelines.
• Oversee DOD components’ post-immunization patient safety surveillance procedures and publish guidance on the detection, reporting, investigation, and management of immunization-associated adverse events.

Clinical Investigations

• Promote quality improvements in immunization healthcare through public health investigations, surveillance, epidemiologic projects, and clinical studies.
• Conduct a portfolio of clinical investigations to improve vaccine safety, effectiveness, and acceptability.