Know the facts to prevent influenza

  • Published
  • By 341st Medical Group
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  Flu season predominates in the winter months, although outbreaks may occur as early as October and as late as May. Flu activity normally peaks between December and February.  Over the last year in the U.S., there were 17,856 hospitalizations and approximately 1,500 deaths associated with influenza infections. Of these cases, 608 hospitalizations and 24 deaths occurred in Montana.

What is the flu? The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat, and lungs. These viruses can cause mild to severe illness which at times can lead to death.  Flu viruses spread mainly by droplets produced when people with the flu cough, sneeze or talk. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby. Less often, a person might get the flu by touching a surface or object that has influenza virus on it and then touching his or her own mouth, eyes or nose.
 
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends yearly flu vaccination for everyone 6 months of age and older as the first and most important step in protecting against this serious disease. To maximize protection against the flu, people should be vaccinated as early as possible during the influenza season. In addition to receiving the flu vaccine you should protect yourself by avoiding people who are sick and by washing your hands frequently to reduce the spread of germs.

If you do get the flu, the CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever resolves, except to get medical care or other necessities. You should stay home from work, school, travel, shopping, social events, and public gatherings to prevent spreading the flu to others. Your fever should be gone without the use of fever-reducing medicines.

The 341st Medical Group provides influenza vaccinations for all active duty military personnel, their dependents, and other authorized beneficiaries. Initially, the immunizations clinic focuses on vaccinating high-risk populations and patients. High-risk populations include health care workers. High-risk patients include adults 65 years of age and older, children younger than 5 years of age, pregnant women, individuals with a history of asthma, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, HIV or AIDS, or cancer, and patients with a compromised immune system.

Please help keep yourself, your loved ones and our population safe and healthy this year by receiving your influenza vaccination as soon as possible.

While active duty members must be vaccinated on base, there are multiple off-base locations that family members and retirees may visit to receive an influenza vaccination. TRICARE beneficiaries may obtain influenza vaccination at Smith's, Albertsons, CVS, Kmart, Walmart, Snyder, Shopko, Sam's Club, and Plaza United. All you need to provide is your military ID card or proof of insurance card. These locations will not provide influenza vaccinations to anyone less than 18 years of age. If you choose to receive your vaccination off-base, please bring a copy of your receipt or vaccination record to the immunizations clinic so that they may update your military vaccination records.

For questions/concerns you can contact our Public Health Office at 406-731-4405, the immunizations clinic at 406-731-4455, or the appointment line at 406-732-4633. For additional information on influenza please visit http://dphhs.mt.gov/ ,  http://www.cdc.gov/ , or http://www.who.int/en/.