VIALS Can Now Process, Generate Flu Vaccine Requisitions

By Sheila Gorman, Naval Medical Logistics Command Public Affairs

FORT DETRICK, Md. (NNS) -- Naval Medical Logistics Command (NMLC) announced Aug. 26 that the Vaccine Information and Logistics System (VIALS) can now process and generate seasonal influenza vaccine requisitions for ashore and afloat Navy activities.

"VIALS is an internal database developed to process vaccine program requirements accurately and timely," said Cmdr. Mary Seymour, NMLC executive officer. "Creating the automated database enhances our ability to process and manage centrally funded vaccine programs such as the 2010-2011 Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Program."

VIALS is being developed incrementally. The initial working model became available in February and was used to capture Navy-wide requirements for the FY 10-11 seasonal influenza program. As a result, requirements from ashore and afloat activities have now been turned into requisitions and sent to the Defense Supply Center Philadelphia (DSCP).

As the vaccine becomes available, DSCP will ship it to the requesting activities to fill orders in accordance with the NMLC release plans that reflect priority guidance directed by the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations.

"Getting VIALS up and running opens doors to using this type of database for all commodities that NMLC manages," said Seymour. "It is a great use of our resources and another example of our commitment to providing our customers with quality medical logistics support requirements throughout the enterprise."

Easy to use, VIALS will provide the Navy with an efficient accounting of vaccine requirements, purchases and deliveries. It will also have the capability to provide executive reporting on program status, while providing field-level activities with status and tracking information on their specific requirements.

"The value of sharing information across Navy Medicine and with our Fleet customers reduces variability within the supply chain," said Lt. Cmdr. Daniel Kachenchai, director for Medical Equipment and Logistics Solutions (MELS). "VIALS will allow NMLC to virtually manage the supply chain while offering real-time reporting metrics to support our customer base."

The MELS Directorate's effort to provide detailed documentation of the existing seasonal influenza vaccine process was critical to developing the VIALS database. Their coordination with the Operational Forces Support Directorate ensured the needs of both ashore and afloat activities were met.

Influenza can be a life-threatening disease that annually results in more than 30,000 U.S. deaths. Receiving an annual influenza vaccine immunization protects many people from getting the disease or becoming severely ill and helps protect entire communities by preventing and reducing the spread of the disease.

The Department of Defense has mandated a policy of annual seasonal influenza vaccinations for all active duty military personnel and selective reserves. With the goal of 100 percent immunization compliance by Dec. 1, 2010, Navy Medicine will be monitoring the influenza virus carefully over the coming weeks and months.

Rich Schlegel, NMLC director for Operational Forces Support, said VIALS is another way NMLC is directly supporting the DoD mandate, Navy Medicine and the fleet.

"Providing the same level of visibility seasonal flu vaccine requisitions that fleet customer's are accustomed to for their equipment purchases will ensure accurate reporting and forecasting of medical readiness for those Sailors at the tip of the spear," Schlegel said.

NMLC's rapid development of VIALS is designed to keep pace with the seasonal influenza program and be fully capable of processing vaccine distribution data. For additional information or help with VIALS, contact NMLC-VialsHelp@med.navy.mil.

NMLC is the center of logistics expertise for Navy Medicine, designing, executing and administering individualized state-of-the-art solutions to meet customer's medical materiel and healthcare support needs.