Clinic prepares for flu season Published Sept. 15, 2008 By 72nd Medical Group Tinker Air Force Base TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla., -- With flu season right around the corner, the fall supply of vaccine will arrive shortly. Health professionals suggest people get vaccinated early (before November) because most flu illnesses occur in January or February, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. On average, 226,000 people are hospitalized every year because of influenza and 36,000 die from complications, according to the CDC. It can lead to pneumonia and cause high fever and seizures in children. The 72nd Medical Group is reaching out to military members to get vaccinated. Annual influenza vaccination is required by all of the services for all active duty personnel, said 72nd Medical Group Flight Medicine nurse, Capt. Nisa Hogle. Active duty members are invited to walk into the immunizations clinic to get their vaccination after its expected arrival sometime in September. The Medical Group's immunization teams will often come to units of 200 or more to administer the vaccine when requested, she said. The Medical Group uses the injectable flu vaccine, the flu shot and the most modern version of the vaccine, the flu mist. The flu shot is a dead form of the flu virus that is injected into the muscle. "The vaccine will help build antibodies to prevent serious flu-related illnesses," said Captain Hogle. It usually takes about two weeks to develop the antibodies. The flu mist is a live, weakened form of the flu virus that is sprayed into the nostrils. "In addition to building antibodies, the flu mist gives the body a "trial run" for fighting off an infection," said Captain Hogle. "The flu mist develops antibodies faster than the flu shot," said Staff Sgt. Tiffany Gordon, non-commissioned officer-in-charge of the Allergy and Immunizations Clinic. The flu shot is recommended for anyone six months or older. The flu mist is recommended for healthy children and adults ages 2-49 without any underlying conditions causing predisposition to flu complications. These include asthma and other respiratory diseases, as well as some chronic medical conditions. The first shipments of the vaccines are expected sometime in September and will be reserved for active duty, high risk patients, and medical workers. Flu vaccinations will be available to all TRICARE beneficiaries as soon as sufficient supply is in stock. Plans for these phases of availability will be announced in a future Tinker Take Off. Hours of operation for the immunizations clinic are 7 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. Monday through Friday, except the third Wednesday of each month, when the clinic closes at noon for training. The past two years, excess vaccine has been made available to civilian GS, NSPS, and WG employees on a first come, first serve basis later in the fall. This year, the amount ordered is only sufficient to cover TRICARE beneficiaries so it is unlikely other civilian workers on base will be offered the vaccine in the workplace. Therefore, all civilians are encouraged to get their flu shots from their own healthcare provider or the local health departments. For questions about the flu vaccine, call the Immunization and Allergy Clinic at 736-2225.