Base populace to be vaccinated for influenza

  • Published
  • By Compiled from staff reports
  • 354th Medical Group
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  The trees have changed color, the birds and tourists are headed south and the kids are back in school. Fall is here, which means flu season isn't far behind.

One way to reduce the chances of getting seasonal influenza is by getting an annual flu immunization.

Starting this season, the majority of active duty personnel will receive the intranasal FluMist, while individuals with specific health risks and in certain age groups will receive injectable vaccine. Intranasal FluMist is recommended for people between two and 49 years old who are not in one of the risk categories, so it is ideal for the active duty population.

"Vaccination is mandatory for active-duty personnel and a good idea for almost everyone else. The shift toward FluMist is in part because it is available much sooner than the injectable vaccine," said Maj. Elizabeth Yogerst, 354th Medical Group public health officer.

She said flu season usually peaks in February; however it can peak as early as November or as late as May. The DoD supply of FluMist is being shipped now (mid-October), while the injectable is usually shipped late in November.

Influenza has received plenty of publicity in the last few years, but the concern over pandemics and "bird flu" should not cause people to ignore the far more commonly-experienced seasonal flu.

"Having the flu is a miserable experience," said Lt. Col. Cheryl Carter, 354th Medical Group chief flight surgeon. "The patient experiences high fevers, shaking, chills, a dry painful cough, and constantly runny nose, among other symptoms."

She said the illness can last over a week. Lost work time is significant, especially since it is magnified by people trying to work while ill and infecting their coworkers.

"Influenza has a 70 percent attack rate, which means that 70 percent of those who aren't immune and who are exposed to influenza will catch it. Imagine what that would do to mission capability," Colonel Carter said.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, seasonal flu is responsible for an average 226,000 hospitalizations and 34,000 deaths annually. These numbers are likely to climb with the increase in elderly and chronically ill populations.

Early concerns about whether FluMist recipients could infect unvaccinated people have proven to be unfounded, so delaying to allow for vaccination of high-risk people is not necessary.

While immunization is recommended for nearly everyone, certain groups are of particular importance. These include children between six months and five years old, people aged 50 years and older, pregnant women, health care providers, child care providers and people with certain medical conditions.

Anyone receiving flu vaccine for the first time should be given two doses in that season.

No vaccine can be guaranteed to provide 100 percent protection, but even if someone does catch the flu despite being vaccinated, they are much less likely to become seriously ill or need to be hospitalized. This is particularly important for children and seniors.

The CDC reports that the average vaccination rate over the entire U.S. population is barely 49 percent, and in many categories is closer to 20 percent. An overall vaccination rate of 80 percent or more benefits everyone by reducing the amount of flu virus circulating in a population.

Unfortunately, not everyone can take an influenza vaccine. People who are allergic to eggs or who have experienced a serious reaction to a flu vaccine in the past should not take either form of the influenza vaccine.

Squadrons will be contacted to schedule a time when Medical Group personnel can set up at different units and administer the vaccine. Small squadrons may be grouped with nearby larger squadrons, and individuals may come to the Immunization Clinic during regular clinic hours.

The Immunization Clinic is open on a walk-in basis Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. except for Thursday afternoons and the last Wednesday of every month.