Med Group opens flu clinic Published Sept. 24, 2009 By Howdy Stout Tinker Public Affairs TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- The 72nd Medical Group opened a Flu Clinic this week in anticipation of the annual autumn flu season and the potential effects of the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus that appeared earlier this year. The clinic, located in the Med Group's old Orthopedic Clinic near the pharmacy, is open to all Active duty, dependents and retirees. "The goal of the flu clinic is to centralize all of the flu patients as much as possible regardless of age," said Capt. Karen Daniels, infection control nurse with the 72nd Med Group. Having all flu patients use one entrance, along with a specialized clinic, will limit potential flu exposure to healthy patients and medical personnel in the main building. The clinic is open from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Patients wishing to visit the clinic, however, will need to phone the clinic appointment line first. Seasonal influenza vaccinations will also soon be available for dependents and retirees. Active duty personnel and certain civilian employees are required to be vaccinated, but officials from the 72nd MDG are urging others to consider vaccinations. "While modern-day vaccines may not prevent everyone from catching the flu because there are many different strains circulating at any time, it usually alleviates the severity of the virus," says Maj. Juan Ramirez, the Public Health Flight commander. Additionally, the 72nd Med Group anticipates that the 2009 H1N1 vaccine will soon be available on base to beneficiaries and retirees as stock flows through state channels. More information will be available soon. Highlighting the importance of vaccination, the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says this year's flu season could be worse than normal due to the global outbreak earlier this year of the 2009 H1N1 flu virus. The World Health Organization declared the outbreak a global pandemic, the first flu pandemic in more than 40 years. Because few people have immunity to this new flu strain, the CDC is concerned that this year's flu season could be severe. Oklahoma schools have already been hit by flu illnesses, although the flu season normally peaks in January and February. Flu symptoms include fever, coughing, runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, aches and fatigue. Symptoms of the 2009 H1N1 virus are the same, only more severe and in some cases are often accompanied by vomiting and diarrhea. More than 20 states - including Oklahoma - are reporting widespread flu outbreaks. The CDC says flu outbreaks in September are very unusual. Most of the flu viruses identified have been the 2009 H1N1 influenza A virus, although there have been several influenza B virus cases reported in Oklahoma and nationwide.