(1997-11-20) Ped-O-Jet® manufacturer (Keystone Industries, Cherry Hill, NJ) notifies Defense Supply Center Philadelphia (DSCP) (Defense Logistics Agency) of intent to withdraw as device supplier over liability concern for bloodborne disease transmission from multiple-use-nozzle design. 
 

(1997-12-05) DoD Medical Materiel Quality Control Program (MMQCP) issues withdrawal of automatic jet hypodermic injection units (MMQC-97-1169). 
 

(1997-12-07) DSCP issues Medical Products Quality Control System (MPQCS) device alert (DSCP 970147) as "cautionary measure", while noting the absence of bloodborne disease transmission case reports over 35 years of military use (followup MMQC-98-1019 dated 1998-Jan-30).
 

(1998-01-09) Armed Forces Epidemiological Board (AFEB) concurs with withdrawal of Ped-O-Jet® for "routine immunization", but availability for "public health emergency".  AFEB recommends use of "newer technology" devices with disposable parts for skin contact. 
 

(1998-04-20) Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery updates via BUMED notice 6230 its Immunization Requirements And Recommendations document (3.6Mb .pdf) prohibiting jet injector use until otherwise directed. 
 

(1998-04-28) AFEB recommends DoD formulate new needle-free injector specifications and support device research and development. 
  

(1998-07-09) Letter from Dr. Sue Bailey, Assistant Secretary of Defense, Health Affairs, to United States Representative Alan B. Mollohan (D-WV), explaining DoD policy on jet injectors in response to the concerns of a constituent of the Congressman.  

 

(1998-1999) Manufacturer discontinuation of large multi-dose vials for yellow fever, meningococcal, and tetanus-diphtheria vaccines because of military withdrawal of Ped-O-Jets® capable of using them (MMQC-99-1248 dated 1998-Nov-03 and MMQC-99-1251 dated 1999-Aug-12). 
 

(1998-11-25) Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery authorizes military use of new disposable-cartridge jet injector (Preventive Medicine Directorate). 

 

Current DoD policies and information available at the Military Immunization Information Source http://www.cdc.gov/nip/dev/jetinject.htm