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Mandatory flu vaccine protects recruiters, their families

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Hillary Stonemetz
  • Air Force Recruiting Service
JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas --  All Airmen are required to get the influenza vaccination to maintain worldwide qualified status, according to Staff Sgt. Alisha Slone, 359th Medical Operations Squadron immunizations clinic NCO in charge.

Airmen should have received an email notification that their flu vaccination is due, she said. A list of who is current on their vaccinations is maintained by the unit deployment manager.
  
According to Tech. Sgt. William Jones, Headquarters Air Force Recruiting Service unit deployment manager, recruiting squadrons can handle vaccinations in a couple of different ways.
  
"Some squadrons will have a vaccination line during the annuals this year," he said.

"For Airmen who won't be at the annuals and who are geographically separated from a base can go to the nearest pharmacy or doctor who accepts TRICARE. Recruiters who get the flu vaccine on the economy need to give proof of vaccination to their unit health monitor. The health monitor will make sure the information is sent to the servicing base immunization clinic."
  
Senior Master Sgt. Robert Dixon, 341st Recruiting Squadron operations flight chief, is organizing a vaccination line for Airmen assigned to his unit.

"We will either have a vaccination line at an off-site session, or arrange a specific time for Airmen assigned to the 341st RCS to have their immunizations done at the Randolph Clinic," he said.
  
According to Slone, the flu shot is available to healthy people ages 6 months and older and the FluMist is available for healthy people between the ages of 2 and 49. The shot is not recommended for people with asthma or diabetes.
 
"The influenza virus puts more than 100,000 people in the hospital and some people die every year," she said.
  
Slone added the vaccine takes about two weeks after vaccination for the antibodies to develop in the body and provide protection.
  
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, getting the vaccine is only the first step to fighting the flu. However, you can also take the following actions to stop the spread of germs:

· Avoid close contact with sick people.
· If you are sick with the flu, stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever has gone down.
· Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, then throw the tissue in the garbage.
· Wash your hands with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizers.
· Disinfect surfaces and objects that might be contaminated with flu germs.
· Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
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The flu vaccination can't give people the virus," Slone said. "Some people develop flu-like symptoms such as headache, congestion and fever but if people get the full-on flu, they already had the flu virus prior to receiving the vaccination."
  
The vaccination is free for TRICARE beneficiaries and can be administered by military hospitals and clinics, by any TRICARE-authorized provider, or from a network pharmacy. To find an authorized provider, visit http://www.tricare.mil/FindDoctor.aspx. To find a network pharmacy, call 1-877-363-1303.