Flu Season Begins: One Shot Required
By: Richard Searles, FHP&R Staff Writer
The 2010-2011 flu season is here and the
new season brings changes to seasonal
flu vaccine protection. Last season, two
vaccines were required – the seasonal flu
vaccine and the H1N1 vaccine. However,
this year the seasonal flu vaccine will
provide protection against the 2009 H1N1
flu strain. You’ll be able to receive one flu
vaccine but receive protection against all
major circulating flu viruses.
“H1N1 is here to stay and the lines of
who is at greatest risk [has] become
blurred,” said Col. Wayne Hachey,
Director, Preventive Medicine, Office
of the Assistant Secretary of Defense
(Health Affairs). “There are no longer
any guarantees about who the high risk
groups are.” In fact, the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention and the
Advisory Committee on Immunization
Practices expanded the recommendation
for annual flu vaccination to include all
people aged 6 months and older.
Flu vaccination is a mandatory annual
requirement for all uniformed personnel
and health care workers. “The vaccine is
your best protection from getting the flu,”
said Col. Hachey. “The vaccine is safe and
is being produced in record amounts.”
The flu vaccine has a long track record
of being effective. Even during years that
the vaccine was not a good match against
catching the prominent virus, it still
provided substantial protection against
the serious consequences associated with
the flu.
This year, the Services requested 18 percent
more vaccines than last year. So, an ample
supply should be available for anyone
wishing to be protected. “The Services
will use the first available vaccine doses
to preserve operational effectiveness and
protect our most vulnerable populations,
but with such a robust vaccine supply,
no one should be turned away,” said Col.
Hachey.
Influenza, also known as the flu, is a
contagious disease that is caused by the
influenza virus. It attacks the human
respiratory tract (nose, throat and lungs).
The flu is different from a cold. Influenza
usually comes on suddenly and may
include: fever, headache, tiredness (can
be extreme), dry cough, sore throat,
nasal congestion and body aches. These
symptoms are usually referred to as “flulike”
symptoms.
“Again, the vaccine is safe and effective
and is your best protection from getting
the flu,” said Col. Hachey. “Getting
vaccinated should be a no brainer.”
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