[Vaccination policy in the IDF--past, present and future]

The Army Health Branch of the Medical Corps in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) maintains responsibility for the IDF's troop vaccination policy. This policy has undergone many changes and adaptations over time, due to shifting trends in civilian and military morbidity; technological advances and the introduction of new vaccines; changes to the cost-effectiveness ratio of specific vaccines; and other causes. The evolution of the IDF vaccination policy has not been reviewed to date, and can well serve as an example of the various considerations influencing public health policy in general, and specifically vaccination policy. Furthermore, questions are often raised by health care professionals as to discharged soldiers' military vaccination history, especially in the context of travel clinics. The authors present an historical review and current update of the IDF vaccination policy.