Thursday, September 25, 2008

Are you ready for the upcoming flu season?

The DeWitt Health Care Network begins administering influenza vaccines to beneficiaries beginning Oct. 11 at Specker Field House.

Beneficiaries will be able to receive either the FluMist or injectable vaccines. FluMist is for ages 2 to 49 with no chronic health problems. Injectables are for people at high risk, for example, those over 49 or have diabetes, asthma, heart disease, cancer, etc., and are not eligible for the FluMist.

The following is a list of vaccination locations, times and dates:
• Specker Field House, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Oct. 11, 18 and 25
• Specker Field House, 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Oct. 14 and 15; 21 to 23; 27 to 29
Nov. 12 and 13; 17 to 19, 24 and 25; Dec. 2 to 4; 9 to 11
• Barden Education Center, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Nov. 25 and Dec. 11

1. Who should get the flu shot and why?
Everyone — except those who are allergic to eggs, had a reaction to previous flu shot or has a history of Guillain-Barré syndrome. The flu vaccines boost the immune system and help prevent your vulnerability to influenza.
2. Why is the flu shot given annually and why is it important to get one every year?
The flu shot is given annually to protect the body from the flu virus. It is important to receive one annually because there are different strains of the virus and the vaccine will protect you from the current known strains.
3. I am a healthy person, who has neither had the flu or a flu shot, why should I get one know?
The flu shot boosts the immune system so we may stay healthy and are not vulnerable to the flu virus. As we age or deal with stress, the immune system weakens, so we may be vulnerable to the flu virus at any given point and time.
4. I am working in a medical facility and, although I have never had the flu shot, I have been advised I need to get one now. Why is this?
As a health care worker, we must realize we must be healthy first to care for our patients.  So, the flu shot boosts the healthy immune system. Also, we are taking care of sick patients who may expose us to the flu and we need our immune system to be as strong as possible to prevent us from catching the flu.
5.  What types of flu vaccinations are available and what are the differences?
Currently the DoD contracts three types of influenza vaccines:
• Flu Mist (Live, Attenuated) (weakened) - for healthy people ages 2 to 49
• Flu Zone (Inactivated) - Children 6 months and older
• Fluarix (Inactivated) - people 18 and older
6. What are the side effects that could occur?
Soreness, redness, or swelling where the shot was given; a low-grade fever; and aches.
The effects may begin soon after the shot and usually last one to two days.
Flu shot updates will be printed in future Belvoir Eagle. DeWitt’s flu hotline number is 703-805-0506.