“Army shots” is a term used to describe the vaccinations required for US Army personnel.
Army shots and immunizations protect the people who receive them and those with whom they come into contact.
Unfortunately, too many adults become ill or die each year from diseases that could be prevented. Everyone, young and old, benefits from immunizations.
For over 230 years, the Army’s health care system has administered shots or immunized soldiers to keep the mission ready. In addition, military researchers have developed and improved vaccines to protect against more than 20 diseases.
Some of the common vaccinations on the Army Shot List include:
- Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR)
- Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis (Tdap)
- Polio (IPV)
- Hepatitis A
- Hepatitis B
- Meningococcal
- Varicella (Chickenpox)
- Influenza (seasonal flu shot)
- Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)
- Pneumococcal (PCV)
- Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
- COVID-19
These vaccinations or army shots vary depending on a variety of factors, such as
- Soldier’s age
- Soldiers rank
- Deployment location
- job-specific duties
Some army shots have booster shots to enhance and maintain their effectiveness over time.
The US Army follows the vaccination guidelines provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) to ensure the health and safety of service members.
Immunization Army Shot List
- Adenovirus, Types 4 and 7
- Meningococcal: Administered on a one-time basis to recruits
- Influenza (Flu Shot): Recruits receive this shot in basic only during the designated flu season (October – March)
- Measles: Adminsted to all recruits regardless of history
- Mumps: Administered to all recruits regardless of prior history
- Polio: All recruits
- Rubella: Administered to all recruits regardless of previous history.
- Tetanus-diphtheria: Administered to all recruits lacking a reliable record of prior immunization
Routine “Booster” Shots while in the Military
- Influenza (Flu Shot): Annual, during “Flu Season” (October – March)
- Tetanus-diphtheria: All recruits without a confirmed history of immunization
- Yellow Fever: Navy and Marine Corps only.
Army Shots on Deployment or Traveling to High-Risk Areas
- Hepatitis A
- JE Vaccine (Japanese B Encephalitis)
- Meningococcal
- Typhoid
Shots Required by Host Countries
- Cholera
Shots for High-Risk Occupational Groups
- Plague: Admistered only when soldiers are in a high-risk endemic transmission
- Rabies: Administred to soldiers with a high risk of exposure
- Varicella
Army shots for soldiers handling a Biological Threat
- Small Pox: Administered only under the authority of DoD Directive
- Anthrax: Administered only under the authority of DoD Directive
August is National Immunization Awareness Month.
August is National Immunization Awareness Month. I can’t think of a better time to discuss what immunizations, also known as army shots,” mean for the health of our service members, their families, and veterans.
Army shots and immunizations protect you from infection, and vaccines can save lives.
Vaccination is one of the best ways to protect ourselves, our loved ones, and our community against infectious diseases.
National Immunization Awareness Month is an annual observance held in August to highlight the importance of vaccination for people of all ages.
As we recognize National Immunization Awareness Month in August, I urge you to promote immunizations and encourage your family, friends, and fellow soldiers to ensure they get fully protected.
Army Medicine team, I encourage you to continue to ensure your patients, clients, family members, and soldiers are current on recommended army shots and vaccines.
According to the CDC, healthcare professionals are the most trusted source of vaccine information for parents and patients.
Do your part this August and make sure your army shots and vaccinations are up-to-date.
Importance of Army Shots and Immunization
About 35,000 people die each year in the United States from influenza-related infections. Some diseases, such as polio or diphtheria, are rare in the United States, but they became rare because we vaccinated against them.
Vaccines: Once introduced to the body, vaccines help the body stimulate an immune response. This creates immunity to the vaccinated disease. Depending on the vaccine, it can be injected or sprayed into the mouth or nose. Once vaccinated, you are protected against the infectious disease. Some vaccines require annual boosters.
Vaccines Administered: Over the past year, the regional health command Atlantic has administered over 500,41,000 COVID-19 vaccinations. To military members, their families, our retirees, and, in some cases, the surrounding community. The regional health command, Atlantic teammates, has given 41.7 % of vaccines administered by the US Army Medical Command.
Army Shots & Immunization BMT Experience
In this section, I will discuss something everybody fears: the worst part about BMT Army shots and immunizations.
- What type of shots do you get?
- Where do you get them, and
- When you get them over the next eight and a half weeks.
I got eight shots and two tablets, so two pills to take by mouth and eight shots as vaccinations.
On top of that, I got my blood drawn, so be prepared for that. Don’t be too afraid of it because it’s not that bad.
If you’re afraid of needles, you’ll have to get over it because there’s no getting around it.
On your first week, you will go to the Army Clinic, where you get all your army shots, immunizations, and dental, eye, and other medical checks.
When you arrive at the clinic, you are told to wait outside for your turn to get in.
Once you get in, you enter a small room, and the nurses will
give you different colored sheets. Each color represents how many shots you need.
There are four or five different colors. If you are one of the people who didn’t turn in any of your medical records as a civilian, they will give you all the army shots.
You’ll get all the necessary army shots if you haven’t turned your medical records in.
I didn’t get many shots because I turned in my medical records from the civilian world.
Once the Army has your medical records, they will review them and determine whether you need any shots.
The Process of Getting the Army Shots, Step by Step
- You’ll go through a line.
- The Army will hand you this alcohol swab.
- You will rub it on your shoulders and triceps and ensure it’s all clean and sanitized before you get in there.
- You will then walk through the line, and they’ll give you a shot on your right and left shoulders.
- You will then take a step forward and get a shot on each shoulder again or a tricep, depending on what kind of shot you’re getting.
- After that, you will move on and clean the immunized area with the alcohol swab.
Finally, I also got my peanut butter shot, which is the penicillin shot. The very last shot that you’re going to get is the infamous peanut butter shot. So many people ask me this: Does the peanut butter shot exist? I reviewed the Army Peanut Butter Shot. Click to read the article.
So, don’t worry about it because you are worried about many things at BMT, such as marching movements or army uniforms.
Conclusion
When more people are vaccinated, it lessens the chances of those infectious diseases spreading. Vaccinations are one of the best defenses for preventing and stopping the spread of disease. In addition, healthy, immunized soldiers ensure a healthy army that is medically ready to fight and win our nation’s wars.
Army shots, or immunizations, are the best protection against disease and have saved more lives than any other medical intervention.
Born and raised in Bozeman, Montana, he graduated from George State University with an MBA in Actuarial Science. His hobbies include beach volleyball, hiking, fishing, and lifting weights
George is also a certified nutritionist with a passion for health and fitness.
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