Flu vaccines have arrived

  • Published
  • By Capt. Heidi Hernandez
  • 66th Medical Squadron
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  It's that time of year again; time to receive your influenza vaccine.

The 66th Medical Squadron Clinic has received all stocks of flu vaccine for active duty members. There are two methods to deliver the vaccine, either by a shot or the nasal spray, also known as FluMist.

Air Force Material Command's goal for this year is 90 percent of all active duty members vaccinated by Dec. 16. Clinic officials urge commanders to release members throughout the day to receive their flu vaccines and help Hanscom AFB reach the 90 percent goal before December.

This year civilians will not be offered the flu vaccine, however, local boards of health throughout Massachusetts offer free flu vaccinations. For further information, visit www.mylocalclinic.com. Public Health officials remind personnel to bring insurance cards if receiving vaccines.

Flu vaccines will begin Oct. 1. The Immunization Clinic is open for active duty, retiree, dependents and anyone TriCare eligible who needs the flu vaccine. The schedule is Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, 7:30 a.m. to noon and 1:30 to 4 p.m. Flu vaccines are available on Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to noon only.

To contact the Immunization Clinic to provide proof of vaccination, personnel can contact 781-225-6172, by email at 66.mds.immunizations@hanscom.af.mil or by fax at 781-225-257.

What is influenza, or also called flu?
The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat, and lungs. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. The best way to prevent the flu is by getting a flu vaccine each year. Antiviral treatment exists only for those cases deemed life threatening or severe. Check with your provider if you have questions or need more information.

Signs and symptoms of flu
People who have the flu often feel some or all of these signs and symptoms:
· Fever or feeling feverish/chills
· Cough
· Sore throat
· Runny or stuffy nose
· Muscle or body aches
· Headaches
· Fatigue or feeling tired
· Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than adults.

Complications of flu
Complications of flu can include bacterial pneumonia, ear infections, sinus infections, dehydration, and worsening of chronic medical conditions, such as congestive heart failure, asthma, or diabetes.

Prevention Measures:
1) Get Vaccinated: the Centers for Disease Control recommends a yearly seasonal flu vaccine as the first and most important step in protecting against seasonal influenza.

2) Avoid close contact: avoid close contact with people who are sick. Those that are sick should keep a distance from others to protect them from getting sick, too.

3) Cover the mouth and nose: cover the mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those who are close by from getting sick. Put your used tissue in the waste basket. If you don't have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve or elbow, not your hands.

4) Clean hands: washing hands often will help protect from germs. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
5) Avoid touching the eyes, nose or mouth: germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose or mouth.

6) Practice other good health habits: get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage stress, drink plenty of fluids and eat nutritious food.

Myths about Flu vaccination
1. The vaccine makes you sick or gives you the flu.
The flu shot is made from inactivated virus that cannot cause the flu. A few people may get some aches and low-grade fever one to two days after a flu shot, but this is not the same as having the flu. The vaccine in the nasal spray is made from a live virus that has been modified so that it cannot cause disease.

2. I am healthy, and I never get the flu, so I don't need a vaccine.
We recommend flu vaccine every year for everyone because, by being vaccinated, you protect those who aren't so healthy. If you get the flu you can pass it on to babies, seniors, and people who have chronic health conditions such as heart disease, lung disease, diabetes or asthma.

3. It is better to get the flu, and fight it off naturally.
This may be your choice, but you might not want to take that risk for your grandmother or your newborn niece.

4. I already had the flu, so I don't need the vaccine.
Without testing you, we can't be sure that what you had was the flu. It could have been a cold or an infection that felt like the flu. If it was a stomach illness, it was not the flu. Because the virus that causes flu changes every year, you need a new flu shot each fall.

For more information on seasonal flu please visit www.cdc.gov or www.mass.gov. For questions please call Hanscom AFB, Public Health Office at (781) 225-6259 or 6226.