Servicemembers should keep vaccines in check during August

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Nora Anton
  • 354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
The month of August is designated as National Immunization Awareness Month to spotlight the importance of keeping immunizations for yourself and family members up-to-date.

Keeping your health in check is an important part of living a healthy lifestyle and for servicemembers it is also part of your duty.

Military members are required to keep up with deployment requirements, and being properly vaccinated for diseases plays a large part in not only meeting those requirements, but also in making deployments safer.

"Having all immunizations done prepares active duty members for short notice deployments that may involve biological threats like anthrax or smallpox," said Staff Sgt. Jennie Carmichael, 354th Medical Operations Squadron NCO in charge of immunizations. "We need to be medically prepared for anything and vaccines are the first step in being qualified for deployments."

Sergeant Carmichael's advice to all is to always request printed documentation stating that a vaccine is complete and then to keep all proof in a safe place.

She also said that parents should follow any provider instructions when it's time for their children to receive shots, and that they should bring previous shot records to ensure the clinic has the most updated information in their computer system.

In the 50s four vaccines were introduced to children: diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and smallpox. However, three of those were combined into one shot, making a requirement for children, by the time they are two years old, to get two shots.

Now, children receive as many as 20 vaccinations by the time they are two, and the list of vaccines for diseases continues to grow.

Luckily even though the amount of vaccinations has increased over time, military members and dependents are eligible for routine vaccinations and any overseas shots can be coordinated with public health, which is a walk-in clinic.

The Eielson clinic's current days and hours of operation are Mondays through Fridays 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

August may be the month for immunization awareness, but keeping track of these vaccines, and getting vaccinated all the time is ubiquitous with a healthy community, families and selves.

For more information on vaccines, visit public health at the clinic or visit http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/default.htm.

Information in this article was taken from articles written for the Center for Disease Control.