Take Flu Prevention Even More Seriously This Year

WASHINGTON, October 14, 2003 (DeploymentLINK) - The military services are beginning their annual influenza vaccination programs. Influenza, commonly referred to as the flu, is a highly contagious viral infection of the respiratory tract. It often comes on suddenly and causes more severe symptoms than the common cold. These symptoms may include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, headache, muscle aches and extreme fatigue. Most people recover in one to two weeks, but some people will develop life-threatening complications as a result of the flu. The most effective protection against the influenza virus is the flu vaccine.

The best time to be vaccinated is in October or November, although people can still be vaccinated in December and beyond. The Army program officially begins tomorrow, October 15, 2003. The Navy and Air Force programs are already under way. Department of Defense policy requires influenza vaccination for all active duty personnel and Reserve personnel on active duty in excess of 30 days.

"Vaccines are important tools in the force health protection strategy," said U.S. Navy Cmdr. Eugene de Lara, deputy program manager, health readiness, Deployment Health Support Directorate. "Influenza vaccination is especially important to the military because high sick call rates can undermine readiness. Many may not know about the influenza pandemic of 1918-1919, cited as the most devastating epidemic in recorded world history. It caused a four-month delay in U.S. troop deployments to the European theater during WWI. Also, military members and their families are stationed where new strains are likely to appear, and due to their mobile lifestyles that can easily spread the flu, immunizations are especially important."

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 36,000 people die each year from the flu and there are about 114,000 hospitalizations. Earlier this year, the CDC announced there are sufficient supplies of the flu vaccine. During the previous two years there was a vaccine shortage. The Food and Drug Administration has recently approved the use of a nasal spray using live vaccine. This spray is not part of the DoD core formulary in part because of its prohibitive cost and stringent storage requirements.

If servicemembers need to receive their flu shots from civilian providers because of unusual assignment locations where they do not have ready access to a military treatment facility, they should ensure the information gets recorded in their military medical records. U.S. Navy Capt. Edward Kilbane, director of preventive medicine and occupational health, fleet operation support at the U.S. Navy's Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, explained.

"All sailors should make sure their flu shot is recorded in three places; their medical record, their International Certificate of Vaccination, also known as the yellow shot card, and in the Navy's SNAP Automated Medical System, even if they receive their shot from a civilian provider."

The Army and Air Force had similar concerns.

"We do not encourage people to go outside the military health care system to receive the influenza vaccine," said U.S. Army Col. Paula Underwood, a preventive medicine staff officer in the office of the Army's Surgeon General. "Part of implementing a quality vaccination program is being able to ensure compliance. The Army tracks compliance through MEDPROS, its Medical Protection System."

U.S. Air Force Maj. Mylene Huynh, a preventive medicine officer with the Air Force Medical Support Agency, added, "all Air Force vaccinations will be documented in the Air Force Complete Immunization Tracking Application, AFCITA. Any workplace vaccination campaigns or mass immunizations within the Air Force need to plan for this requirement."

The flu virus is constantly changing so the flu vaccine changes each year as well. For that reason, it is important for servicemembers to get the flu shot annually. There are some minor side effects associated with the shot. Recipients may have some soreness at the injection site or a headache or low-grade fever for about a day after vaccination. These side effects are usually mild and do not affect a person's ability to perform their normal daily activities. More often they occur in people who have not been exposed to the flu virus in the past. Contrary to popular belief, the injectable flu vaccine, which is offered by DoD, is incapable of causing actual influenza disease because it is made from killed flu viruses.

The CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends that all persons who meet the following criteria be vaccinated against influenza: Age 50 years and older, age six months to 49 years old with high-risk medical conditions (asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease - often referred to as COPD, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, other conditions affecting the immune system), pregnant women who will be in the second or third trimester of pregnancy during influenza season, children or teenagers on chronic long-term aspirin therapy or residents of nursing home or other chronic-care facilities, those likely to transmit influenza to persons at high risk such as health care workers, caregivers or household members in contact with persons having high-risk conditions, household contacts or out-of-home caretakers of infants and toddlers up to 23 months of age. The advisory committee also recommends influenza vaccination for children six to 23 months of age because of their higher risk of hospitalization from influenza. Any other person six months of age or older wishing to reduce the likelihood of becoming ill with influenza may consider getting vaccinated.

Some people should not get vaccinated against influenza, says the CDC. These include people who are allergic to eggs, those who have had a severe reaction to the flu shot in the past, and pregnant women in their first trimester unless they have high risk medical conditions. If someone does get the flu, a doctor may recommend bed rest, at least six cups of clear fluids a day, and over-the-counter pain relievers and nasal decongestants to ease symptoms. Because influenza is a viral infection, antibiotics are not effective.

The flu vaccine prevents flu-related deaths, prevents severe illness, and protects other people. The DoD vaccination program is one way the Defense Department is safeguarding the health of its servicemembers and their families while maintaining mission readiness and accomplishment. If a servicemember or family member has a question or concern about the vaccination, they can get more information from their local health care provider at their military treatment facility or on the Internet at http://www.cdc.gov/nip/flu.