Swine Flu Vaccine

[popeyesmom]

Does anyone know if our sons and daughters received or will receive the Flu Vaccine this fall?

 

[Capt MJ]

Standard military care for all active duty is the fall flu shot when made available to the military healthcare system. Active duty first, those in operational billets at the head of the line, shore duty at the end. It's usually Oct-Nov.

I'm pretty sure DOD purchases its flu vaccines from the usual civilian suppliers under contract.

With regard to swine flu shot, I don't know what the military medicine plan is for this year. I'm sure DOD policy will flow downward to all services, and perhaps our resident doc KP 2001 or others can comment.

 

[Just_A_Mom]

While your child will get the "Seasonal" influenze vaccine, the vaccine for "Swine Flu" is not yet available.
When it does become available there will likely be shortages and the CDC will recommend vaccination by "priority".
This is the most recent article I have found:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32206655

They are:
Pregnant women
Household contacts of children younger than 6 months
Subset of health workers who have direct contact with ill people
Children 6 months through 4 years of age
Children 5 to 18 who have greater risk factors for the flu

It may be a while before the general military population has access to the swine flu vaccine.

 

[Soylent]

I personally cannot wait to wake up at 5:00 again to get my annual flu shot.