Adenovirus Vaccines in the U.S. Military

Acute respiratory disease (ARD) due to adenoviruses caused significant morbidity in military training populations. Since 1971 ARD has been controlled by the use of live, enteric-coated, adenovirus (ADV) types 4 and 7 vaccines. This immunization program overcame significant problems in vaccine development. Due to a production delay, military training posts stopped ADV vaccine administration in spring 1994. The delivery of ADV vaccine resumed in late February 1995, but another production delay is anticipated. A generation of military medical people have not been exposed to the significant morbidity caused by adenoviruses and are unaware of the effectiveness of the ADV vaccine. ARD morbidity before ADV vaccines, the ADV vaccine development program, and current issues regarding the control of ARD due to adenoviruses in the military are discussed.