Limited H1N1 vaccine has arrived!

  • Published
  • By 1Lt Basil Aboul-Enein
  • 14th Medical Group
COLUMBUS AFB, Miss. --  700 doses of H1N1 nasal spray vaccine are now available and the 14th Medical Group is now prepared to begin limited H1N1 vaccination.

Vaccine supplies will be arriving from two different sources. The Department of Defense will provide the sole source H1N1 vaccine for uniformed and DoD personnel. The other source of H1N1 vaccine is from the Mississippi Department of Health, through the Center for Disease Control and Prevention on behalf of the Department of Health and Human Services.

The Immunization Clinic has received our first shipment of H1N1 vaccine from the Mississippi Department of Health under our agreement with the state to vaccinate eligible personnel not covered by the DoD H1N1 vaccination initiative.

We have 700 doses of H1N1 intranasal spray vaccine available for dependents and retirees only who fall under one of these groups:
- Healthy Adult dependents and retirees age 25 - 49 years if they live with or care for infants younger than 6 months of age. For example, healthy parents, siblings, babysitters, and daycare providers
- Healthy Adult dependents age 10 - 24 who are not pregnant
- Healthy Children age 2 - 9 years

Individuals who have received the FluMist nasal seasonal flu vaccine less than 28 days ago cannot receive the H1N1 vaccine until after 28 days have passed. 

What if I am not included in one of the above groups?
Dependents and retirees who do not meet the above criteria may be eligible to receive the H1N1 flu shot when supplies become available in the next month. We are working closely with public health authorities to continue attaining adequate supplies of H1N1 vaccines to allow us to offer the vaccine to non-active duty personnel. This is a convenient service to beneficiaries as well as civilian personnel who work on base. Uniformed personnel, DoD civilians, and mission essential contract personnel will be vaccinated using the DoD H1N1 supply of vaccine when available in the next month. 

Am I protected against H1N1 if I already received the seasonal flu vaccine?
If you have received the seasonal flu vaccine, you must still receive the H1N1 vaccine in order to gain protection against H1N1 flu. 

What is the best way to prevent getting ill with the H1N1 flu?
Preventive hygiene is the best protection against the H1N1 flu. Continue practicing preventative measures such as hand washing, proper sneezing etiquette and use of hand sanitizer. Also, if eligible, get your H1N1 vaccination! 

What are the Immunization Clinic hours of operation?
The 14th MDG Immunization Clinic is open from 7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday; and 7:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. on Thursdays.

Where can I find more information regarding the H1N1 flu?
For additional information on H1N1 flu and updated information on the H1N1 vaccine, please visit the CDC website at: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/ and the Mississippi State Health Department at http://www.msdh.state.ms.us/