Medical Countermeasures (MCM) authors and recommends plans and policies to prevent death or disease from existing and emerging CBRN threats. These plans begin with the ongoing immunizations of U.S. forces and other mission-critical employees against biological threats, such as anthrax and smallpox.

These policies include:

• Policy on Adherence to the Anthrax Vaccine Immunization Schedule and Medical Exemptions to Anthrax Vaccination, 10 March 2000
• Policy for Smallpox Vaccine and Persons with Cardiac Conditions, 10 April 2003
• Change in Policy for Administration of Anthrax and Smallpox Vaccines, 11 September 2007
• Update to Clinical Policy for the Department of Defense Smallpox Vaccination Program, 1 April 2008 (#08-004)

In addition to the identification and diagnosis of current and future CBRN threats, MCM develops policies for the optimal management, treatment, prophylaxis, and consequence management stemming from exposure to CBRN threat agents.

MCM advises Health Affairs and FHP&R on MCM policies and programs that champion individual health protection for all U.S. Forces against CBRN threat agents. These policies and programs are crafted to foster increased personal health protection for all U.S. Forces from CBRN threat agents and enhance commanders’ abilities to sustain operations in a CBRN threat environment. They must also target the conservation of force strength, protect our service members from debilitating and life-threatening CBRN threats, as well as mitigate the impact on DoD’s medical treatment facilities.