COVID-19 Booster Vaccination in the U.S. Military, August 2021-January 2022.

INTRODUCTION: A booster dose of messenger RNA vaccine protects against severe COVID-19 outcomes. This study examined the incidence of COVID-19 booster vaccination among active-duty U.S. military servicemembers between August 2021 and January 2022, factors associated with vaccination uptake, and trends over time. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of active-duty military personnel using data from the Defense Medical Surveillance System. Participants were included if they served in the active component from August 2021 through January 2022 and were eligible to receive a COVID-19 booster dose by January 2022. Adjusted hazard ratio estimates of time to booster vaccination were calculated using Cox proportional hazards regression. RESULTS: Lower booster vaccine uptake was seen in the U.S. military (25%) than among the general U.S. population at the same time (45%). Booster vaccination increased with older age, with greater education, with higher income, among women, and among those stationed overseas; it decreased with previous COVID-19 infection and use of the Janssen vaccine. There were no significant racial or ethnic disparities in booster vaccination. CONCLUSIONS: In the absence of a compulsory vaccination policy, lower booster vaccine uptake was seen among servicemembers than among the general U.S. population, particularly among members who were younger, were male, Marines, and had a previous history of infection. Low vaccination rates not only increase the risk of acute and long-term health effects from COVID-19 among servicemembers, but they also degrade the overall readiness of the U.S. military.

Long-acting reversible contraceptive use, active component service women, U.S. Armed Forces, 2016-2020.

Long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs) are highly effective means of birth control that can improve service women's overall health and readiness. This report expands upon prior data and summarizes the annual prevalence (overall and by demographics) of LARC use from 2016 through 2020 among active component U.S. service women, compares LARC prevalence to the prevalence of short-acting reversible contraceptives (SARCs), and evaluates the probability of continued use of LARCs by type. LARC use increased from 21.9% to 23.9% from 2016 through 2019 while SARC use decreased from 28.3% to 24.9%. Both SARC and LARC use decreased in 2020 which may have been related to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The prevalence of intrauterine devices (IUDs) was greater than implants, and IUDs also had a higher probability of continuation than implants. At 12 months, the continuation for IUDs was 81% compared to 73% for implants. At 24 months, the probabilities of continuation were 70% for IUDs and 54% for implants. Probabilities of continuation were similar across outsourced care and direct care settings. The increased use of LARCs along with their high frequency of continuation in U.S. service women may have a positive impact on overall health and readiness.

Sepsis hospitalizations among active component service members, U.S. Armed Forces, 2011-2020.

The objective of this study was to assess the incidence and trends of sepsis hospitalizations in the active component U.S. military over the past decade. Between 1 January 2011 and 31 December 2020, there were 5,278 sepsis hospitalizations of any severity recorded among the active component. The overall incidence was 39.8 hospitalizations per 100,000 person-years (p-yrs). Annual incidence increased 64% from 2011 through 2019, then dropped considerably in 2020. Compared to their respective counterparts, rates were highest among female service members, the oldest and youngest age groups, and recruits. The gap in sepsis hospitalization rates between female and male service members increased over the surveillance period. Pneumonia was the most commonly co-occurring infection, followed by genitourinary infections. Among female service members, genitourinary infections were more commonly diagnosed compared to pneumonia. The most common non-infection co-occurring diagnoses were acute kidney failure and acute respiratory failure. This study demonstrates an apparent sex disparity in sepsis rates and further study is recommended to understand its cause.