Seasonal flu shots available Oct. 15

Posted October 5, 2009
By Norfolk District Public Affairs

10/05/09 NORFOLK, Va. — Norfolk District employees (excluding contract employees), who are interested in getting vaccinated for the standard seasonal influenza this year, will be provided an opportunity to receive a no-cost influenza vaccination through services provided by Patient Choice Clinic of Ghent.

Vaccination will be available at the Waterfield Building on Thursday, Oct. 15, from 10 a.m. to noon, in conference room 1A.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is closely monitoring the worldwide spread of the H1N1 influenza virus. According to the Army Surgeon General, H1N1 influenza so far has been no more severe than seasonal flu. H1N1 is expected to be the dominant strain of circulating influenza this year because, until vaccination, most people lack immunity to it. Influenza is not the common cold, and can be a severe to life-threatening disease.

What is influenza (the flu)?

• The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It spreads from person-to-person and can cause mild to severe illness, and in some cases can lead to death. In the United States, yearly outbreaks of seasonal flu usually happen during the fall through early spring.
• It’s thought that H1N1 flu spreads in the same way that regular seasonal influenza viruses spread, mainly through the coughs and sneezes of people who are sick with the virus.
• H1N1 and the seasonal flu also cause similar symptoms: fever, sore throat, cough, runny nose, chills, headache, muscle aches and feeling rundown. H1N1 seems to infect young adults more frequently than seasonal flu, which is most dangerous to the elderly or the very young.
• Symptoms normally last three to five days, but a person may infect others for several days before showing symptoms and for as much as 10 days after symptoms end.

Every year in the United States, on average, more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu-related complications and about 36,000 people die from flu-related causes.

Vaccination is the best way to prevent influenza infection and its complications. Prepare for H1N1 flu the same way you do for seasonal influenza. Get vaccinated as soon as you can. You’ll need both H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccines. All federal employees, except those with severe allergy to eggs, are encouraged to get vaccinated. Both vaccines are mandatory for service members.

Nationally, the Federal Occupational Health (FOH) has distributed its seasonal flu vaccines to federal facilities. Seasonal flu shot clinics will begin either Oct. 5th or Oct. 13th. FOH will administer H1N1 vaccines at federal facilities. The H1N1 distribution plan is still being finalized, but FOH anticipates that it will begin H1N1 shot clinics in November. The H1N1 vaccine will also be available at vaccine clinics throughout the country. Limited vaccine may be available nationwide in the initial 2 or 3 weeks of the 2009 H1N1 vaccination program, so specific target groups and high-risk subgroups have been prioritized to receive the first available doses.

Immunizations – the first defense

• Immunization remains the best method of preventing or reducing illness from flu viruses.
• Getting an annual influenza vaccine (either a shot or an inhaled nasal spray) protects many people from getting the seasonal flu or becoming severely ill.

Preventive Methods – for your daily routine You can take common sense precautions to protect yourself and your family and decrease the spread of flu viruses:

• Cover your mouth with a tissue if you can, or your upper arm, when you cough. Then throw the tissue away.
• Wash your hands often with soap and warm water, especially after coughing or sneezing. Alcohol gel hand cleansers are an effective alternative.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
• If you or a loved one are sick, stay home, and try to avoid close contact with sick people.

For additional Information:
General information on seasonal flu and H1N1 can be found at: www.ready.army.mil and www.flu.gov.