RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
The H1N1 vaccine, which recently came to Randolph Air Force Base in small shipments, is available at the 12th Medical Group on a priority basis.
The vaccine is currently available to beneficiaries falling within certain Center for Disease Control target groups who most likely to spread the disease or suffer greatest influenza-related complications.
Tricare has also waived any fees associated with getting the H1N1 vaccine for high-risk patients so they can obtain the vaccine from civilian sources without cost. "This does not pertain to age-based target groups, but does include medical conditions such as pregnancy, chronic pulmonary and cardiovascular conditions including asthma, renal, hepatic, cognitive, neurologic, neuromuscular, hematologic or metabolic disorders and immunosuppression," said Col. Donald Noah, acting deputy assistant secretary of defense for force protection and readiness.
Colonel Noah added, as vaccine availability increases, there will be an adequate supply for all wishing to be immunized.
The next target groups to be vaccinated as the supply of vaccine grows will be people who live with or care for infants younger than 6 months of age, anyone from 6 months to 24 years of age and health care and emergency medical personnel.
In the meantime, those being immunized at the 12th MDG can rest assured that the H1N1 vaccine is safe, has not been rushed into production and is definitely not experimental, said Maj. (Dr.) Susannah Simone, 12th MDG pediatrics flight commander and immunizations officer-in-charge.
"It is safe. In fact, my children will be getting it here," said Major Simone, who is the doctor in charge of immunizing Team Randolph with the vaccine.
She explained the injectable and nasal-mist H1N1 vaccines on the market today, both of which are available at the 12th MDG, are FDA-approved and are made just like seasonal influenza vaccines. They're expected to be as effective as seasonal influenza vaccines but will not prevent "influenza-like" illnesses or other viruses. Nor will the H1N1 vaccine prevent seasonal flu.
Maj. Simone also de-bunked two prevalent myths; that it's okay to wait until after the winter to be immunized against H1N1 influenza and that last year's seasonal influenza vaccine will shield against getting the H1N1 virus.
"The 2009 H1N1 influenza is a new virus," she explained. "It's very different from seasonal viruses of the past. Most people less than age 65 have little or no immunity to it."
She said it's incumbent upon health consumers to be vaccinated as soon as possible.
"Don't wait. Get vaccinated as soon as the vaccine is available. The H1N1 virus is unpredictable and the best prevention is to be vaccinated against it," Major Simone added.
She went on to say that children through nine years of age should get two doses of vaccine, about a month apart; older children and adults only need one dose.
The 12th MDG has a flu phone line set up that can be used to check on current supplies of vaccine at 652-6800. Additionally, updated information is on the Randolph H1N1 Web site at www.randolph.af.mil/library/h1n1.asp.