DLA flu program closes 2025-2026 season, supports single-dose vaccine policy shift

Significant flu vaccine policy changes this season highlight the situational agility of the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support Medical supply chain as collaboration led to the successful completion of the 2025-2026 flu vaccine program.

In the summer of 2025, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted not to recommend the use of multi-dose vials in all persons six months and older. As a result, the flu program executed a full changeover to the procurement and distribution of pre-filled syringes with single doses of the vaccine.

"A total of 3.02 million vaccine doses were delivered to warfighters and dependents, under three contracts totaling $31.2 million," said Shairy Cartagena, DLA Troop Support Medical Pharmaceutical Manufacturer/Distributor division integrated support team chief. "This season's flu program included close collaboration between the contracting team, cold chain team, material planners, tailored vendor logistics specialists, the (military) services, (the Defense Health Agency), and DLA Distribution Center in Susquehanna, Pennsylvania," Cartagena said.

"This season's successes are based on teamwork within the Medical supply chain team and across DLA major subordinate commands," said Dana Dallas, DLA Troop Support Medical Cold Chain Program manager.

The policy shift required a real-time response from DLA to ensure warfighters received their vaccines under the right conditions and at the right time.

"We had a definite logistics challenge this year with having to pivot from vials to syringes, but even with that, it was a very successful season," said Dallas.

Once procurement was complete, Troop Support's Medical supply chain worked with the military services to coordinate allotment of orders to ensure receipt of the necessary requirements of vaccines. Then, Troop Support submits the information to DLA Distribution to start shipping doses.

"We were able to accommodate the procurement of prefilled syringes of the flu vaccines and then worked to ensure the shipments, some of which were now at a bulk volume where they historically would not have been, were transported under the proper conditions," said Dallas.

Maintaining the integrity of these larger shipments of syringes required constant communication between DLA Troop Support and Distribution to understand the volume ordered by the military and how to best accommodate shipments to ensure the efficacy of each dose, she added.

"After the (military services) confirm the number of doses needed and where they need those packages sent, we send the requisition to DLA Distribution for shipment," said Dallas.

The interface between DLA Troop Support and Distribution occurs on a daily basis and extends well beyond electronic submission of requisitions, said Dallas.

DLA Distribution oversees the receipt, storage and shipment of the syringes.

"The conversation started way back in the planning phase (last) summer," Jonathan Healy, DLA Distribution Shelf-life Special Commodities team lead said. "DLA Distribution oversees the logistical planning for storing and primary shipping of all the influenza vaccines. The shift in the size of the product required the usage of additional thermal insulated containers for small parcel shipments and more bulk shipments."

The cold chain for many shipments of these vaccines required additional coordination. Some overseas shipments, for example, required bulk containers that are battery-powered units used to maintain the cold chain required distribution for flu vaccines, said Healy.

"Exposure to temperatures outside a specific range can result in a weaker flu vaccine requiring the dose to be discarded," Healy said. "Therefore, a lot of planning goes in to how we get these vaccines to warfighters. Collaborative efforts allow for easy adjustments to the mission regardless of what new challenges the team faces year to year."

The respective teams also worked to develop contingency plans to include any significant delays in shipment like weather anomalies or customs delays, Dallas said.

"There's always something we don't plan for, and you can't possibly predict or prevent," Dallas said. "This policy change was not something we saw coming. However, we made it through together. This is the new reality. The team rose to the occasion and made sure servicemembers are protected by flu vaccines."

This program planning has already started for the next flu season, since DLA Troop Support Medical awarded its contracts for the 2026-2027 season earlier this month, said Cartagena.