Army shots and vaccinations are certainly necessary during basic training, and throughout your career in the Army, due to the close living quarters and other factors. The Army puts a lot of money into you when sending you through basic training, they don’t want you just go out and be sick all the time!
Below we’ve listed the basic training army shots that you will receive once you arrive at Reception. Just remember, shots are only painful for a second, most of these you will only need once in your lifetime! Oh, and don’t worry, the floors in the “shot room” are padded just in case the guy next to you passes out.
Don’t think you have to get every Army vaccination listed below! The number of shots you receive at basic training all depend on your vaccination history. You only receive the shots you actually need. Most recruits receive 2-3 of the army shots below. It just all depends on you. If you are allergic to any medications, such as penicillin, you will not be getting those shots either.
Army Shots List
| Vaccination Agent | Remarks |
|---|---|
| Adenovirus, Types 4 and 7 | |
| Influenza (Flu Shot) | Recruits receive this shot in basic only during the designated flu season (October – March) |
| Measles | Measles Mumps and rubella (MMR) are administered to all recruits regardless of prior history. |
| Meningococcal | Quadrivalent meningococcal vaccine (containing A, C, Y, and W-135 polysaccharide antigens) is administered on a one-time basis to recruits. The vaccine is given as soon as practicable after in-processing or training. This vaccine is required routinely only for recruits, although its use may be indicated in other situations based on transmission potential and risk of contracting meningococcal disease. |
| Mumps | Measles Mumps and rubella (MMR) are administered to all recruits regardless of prior history. |
| Polio | A single dose of trivalent OPV is administered to all enlisted accessions. Officer candidates, ROTC cadets, and other Reserve Components on initial active duty for training receive a single dose of OPV unless prior booster immunization as an adult is documented. |
| Rubella | Measles Mumps and rubella (MMR) are administered to all recruits regardless of prior history. |
| Tetanus-diphtheria | A primary series of tetanus-diphtheria (Td) toxoid is initiated for all recruits lacking a reliable history of prior immunization in accordance with existing ACIP guidelines. Individuals with previous history of Td immunization receive a booster dose upon entry to active duty and subsequently in accordance with ACIP requirements. |
| Routine “Booster” Shots while in the Military | |
| Influenza (Flu Shot) | Annual, during “Flu Season” (October – March) |
| Tetanus-diphtheria | A primary series of tetanus-diphtheria (Td) toxoid is initiated for all recruits lacking a reliable history of prior immunization in accordance with existing ACIP guidelines. Individuals with previous history of Td immunization receive a booster dose upon entry to active duty and subsequently in accordance with ACIP requirements. |
| Yellow Fever | Navy and Marine Corps only. |
| When Deploying or Traveling to High Risk Areas | |
| Hepatitis A | |
| JE Vaccine (Japanese B Encephalitis) | |
| Meningococcal | |
| Typhoid | |
| When Required by Host Country to Enter | |
| Cholera | Cholera vaccine is not administered routinely to either active or reserve component personnel. Cholera vaccine is administered to military personnel, only upon travel or deployment to countries requiring cholera vaccination as a condition for entry, or upon the direction of the appropriate Surgeon General, or Commandant (G-K), Coast Guard. |
| High Risk Occupational Groups | |
| Hepatitis B | |
| Measles | |
| Mumps | |
| Plague | There is no requirement for routine immunization. Plague vaccine is administered to personnel who are likely to be assigned to areas where the risk of endemic transmission or other exposure is high. Vaccine may not be effective in the prevention of airborne infection. The addition of antibiotic prophylaxis is recommended for such situations. |
| Rabies | Rabies vaccine is administered to personnel with a high risk of exposure (animal handlers; certain laboratory, field, and security personnel; and personnel frequently exposed to potentially rabid animals in a non occupational or recreational setting). |
| Varicella | |
| When Deployed to Area Where In-Theater Commander Accesses a Biological Threat | |
| Small Pox | This vaccine is administered only under the authority of DoD Directive 6205.3, DoD Immunization Program for Biological Warfare Defense. |
| Anthrax | This vaccine is administered only under the authority of DoD Directive 6205.3, DoD Immunization Program for Biological Warfare Defense. |
Want to get these Army shots and vaccinations over with?
When entering basic training, you only receive shots you do not currently have. So while waiting to go to basic, why not find out what vaccinations you need? Get them beforehand and you’ll have one less line to stand in! Just be sure to have them on record!