Defense Department to Start H1N1 Flu Vaccinations

All military personnel will be vaccinated against the H1N1 flu virus beginning in October, and the vaccine will be available to all military Family members, according to Defense Department information released today.

The H1N1 vaccination program will begin early next month, said Army Lt. Col.
(Dr.) Wayne Hachey, director of preventive medicine for Defense Department Health Affairs. The vaccine, which has been licensed by the Food and Drug Administration, will be mandatory for uniformed personnel, Hachey explained.

DoD will use its usual seasonal flu vaccine distribution chain for H1N1 vaccinations, Hachey said, noting that while the mass H1N1 vaccinations are new to the general population, vaccinating against seasonal flu is “old hat” for the Department. "We've been doing this for decades," he said. "The system is tried and true."

The department initially will receive 1 million doses of the H1N1 vaccine, and 7 million doses later in October.

It has not been determined whether one dose or two will be needed, Hachey said. "The assumption right now is that people will need two doses, 21 days apart," he said. "That may change."

FDA officials still are studying H1N1 and the vaccine, and the results should be known by the end of the month.

Guidelines for giving the H1N1 vaccine to family members will follow those established by the CDC for the general population, Hachey said. The CDC has established target groups for those at greatest risk for transmitting or being affected by the H1N1. Those groups will get the vaccine first. They include pregnant women, health-care workers, those younger than 25 or older than 65 and those with pre-existing health conditions.

Hachey said previous plans are serving the Defense Department well. "We have been preparing for pandemic flu because of its potential impact on the mission," he said.

More: http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=55698