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Influenza virus in full swing

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Brian McMahan
  • 20th Medical Group
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  A spokesperson for Tuomey Medical Center in Sumter said last week that about 90 percent of the flu cases they're seeing now are H1N1, also known as "swine flu."

This virus is a new influenza virus that first caused illness in Mexico and the United States in April 2009. 

It is thought that the H1N1 virus spreads in the same way that regular seasonal influenza viruses spread, through coughs and sneezes of people who are sick with the virus, and by touching infected objects and then touching one's nose or mouth. 

June 11, 2009, the World Health Organization signaled that a global pandemic of H1N1 influenza was underway by raising the worldwide pandemic alert level to Phase 6. 

This novel influenza virus, in conjunction with regular seasonal influenza viruses, poses the potential to cause significant illness with associated hospitalizations and deaths during the U.S. influenza season.

Frequent hand-washing, covering coughs and staying away from others when ill are the main actions to prevent spread of any influenza virus.

Immunization against seasonal influenza viruses and the novel H1N1 influenza virus are also very important ways to reduce the risk of disease.

The seasonal flu vaccine is available now at the immunizations clinic for all dependents and retirees. Active duty members may report to the immunizations clinic, or attend the mass immunization session scheduled for your squadron, to receive the vaccine. 

The H1N1 vaccine is not yet available for active duty, but distribution of the vaccine will begin when sufficient quantities of the vaccine are received. H1N1 vaccine for Active Duty, Guard and Reserve personnel will be shipped through the DoD Channels. 

The vaccine will also be made available to mission-essential civilian personnel if they choose to be vaccinated by the military. This vaccine will be the injectable, inactivated vaccine. 

H1N1 vaccine for military Tricare Prime dependents and retirees enrolled to the 20th Medical Group will be provided by the Centers for the Disease Control. This vaccine will be distributed through the states. 

The 20th MDG has registered with the state of South Carolina as a vaccine provider and expects to receive doses of the H1N1 vaccine to provide to our dependent and retiree population. 

The vaccine received from the state consists of both the inactivated injectable vaccines, or flu shots, and the live attenuated vaccine, or flu mist. We have currently received only a tiny amount of the H1N1 vaccine for non-active duty. 

The patient must be high risk and must have a prescription from their Shaw provider to obtain the vaccine. Per Department of Defense policy, individuals enrolled to a civilian provider will need to obtain the H1N1 vaccine from their civilian provider. 

The CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has developed recommendations for novel H1N1 influenza vaccines. The CDC recommends that the target groups listed below receive the H1N1 vaccine as soon as possible. 

Therefore, dependents and retirees listed in the target groups below will be offered the H1N1 vaccine prior to other dependents and retirees not meeting target group criteria. The target groups for vaccination are: 

· Pregnant women 
· Children from six months to 24 years of age
· Health care and emergency medical services personnel
· People who live with or care for children younger than six months of age or other persons at risk for medical complications
· People from the ages of 25 to 64 years who are at higher risk for novel H1N1 influenza complications because of chronic health disorders or compromised immune systems
· Children and adolescents from six months to 18 years receiving long-term aspirin therapy

The order of these target groups does not indicate one group is to be vaccinated before the others.

The 20th MDG will distribute a message when the H1N1 vaccine becomes available and will provide details on when and where to receive the vaccine.If you have further questions, contact the Public Health office at 895-6193 or the Immunizations Clinic at 895-CARE.