Goodfellow preparing for flu season

  • Published
  • By Robert Martinez
  • 17th Training Wing
GOODFELLOW AFB, Texas --  This year's flu season vaccination kicked off following the wing's weekly staff meeting. Col. David Rearick, 17th Training Wing vice wing commander, group commanders, joint service leaders and other wing leadership received their seasonal flu vaccination on Sept. 29. The regular influenza season starts this month and runs through May 2010. 

The 315th Training Squadron will be the next group to receive their shots on Sept. 30. A schedule for the rest of the base will be released soon. 

"We're working on a schedule now for active duty and DOD beneficiaries. We hope to have the majority of active duty vaccinated in October," said Capt. Renee Jackson, 17th Medical Operations Squadron Aerospace Medicine Flight commander. 

Vaccinations are mandatory for active duty military. The seasonal flu vaccine will be offered to the training squadrons and active duty permanent party personnel initially. The clinic expects to begin offering the flu vaccine to DOD beneficiaries by the end of October. 

The H1N1 vaccine for active duty, guard, and reserve and mission-essential civilian personnel who choose to be vaccinated comes directly from DOD and should be arriving on Goodfellow soon. Vaccine for dependents and retirees comes from the state and should be arriving on base in mid-October. There will be multiple sites offering the vaccine within the civilian community. Department of Defense civilians and contractors are encouraged to seek vaccine through non-DOD sources as this will likely result in quicker access to vaccine. 

"We do not anticipate running out of the H1N1 vaccine since we'll be able to order more as needed, which is dictated by demand." said Capt Jackson. 

"Immunization is the best primary prevention for influenza," said Capt. Jackson "but secondary prevention measures are; cover your cough, wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze and use alcohol-based hand cleaners when soap and water are not available. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth and try to avoid close contact with sick people through social distancing, and do not go to work or school if you are sick."