Reduce your risk: Get the mist Published Sept. 1, 2011 By 1st Lt. Michael "K9" Klingshirn 92nd Medical Group FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- The best ways to prevent influenza illness is by getting the flu vaccination each year and taking everyday actions to stay healthy. Seasonal flu vaccination should begin in September, or as soon as the seasonal flu vaccine is available, and continue throughout the flu season into spring. While seasonal flu outbreaks can happen as early as October, most of the time seasonal flu activity peaks in January or later. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that all people receive the flu vaccine, unless they have a medical reason not to. Actions to prevent the spread of influenza: Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it. Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread this way. Try to avoid close contact with sick people. If you are sick with flu-like illness, CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. There is a nasal-spray form of the flu vaccine (FluMist®) available for all healthy TRICARE-covered beneficiaries ages 2 to 49 years old that are not pregnant. FluMist® is a preservative- and thimerosal-free nasal-spray that is very easy to administer. FluMist® and the flu shot will reduce your risk of getting the flu. The traditional "flu shot" will be available for those TRICARE beneficiaries with certain health conditions or those that do not meet the age requirements for FluMist®. Some people, such as children 6 to 23 months old, adults over 65, pregnant women and people with certain health conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease), should only be immunized with the flu shot. Be sure to ask your provider if the flu shot is right for you. TRICARE will cover the cost of vaccinations recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The seasonal flu vaccine is a TRICARE-covered benefit and according to the CDC has up to a 90 percent success rate in a healthy population. Because vaccination may take up to 2 weeks to protect an individual, vaccination should take place as soon as possible. Patients should benefit most by getting vaccinated by October or November. However, getting it as late as December can still help bolster the immune system. Patients enrolled at a military treatment facility should call to find out when the vaccine is available. Active Duty members are required to receive the flu vaccine at a military treatment facility. TRICARE will reimburse all non-active duty members that receive vaccination outside of the MTF. To find a participating TRICARE Retail Network Pharmacy that provides Seasonal Influenza Vaccine visit: http://www.express-scripts.com/TRICARE/pharmacy/ Anyone with a chronic medical condition, who requires an annual flu vaccine, must have a written prescription from their healthcare provider in order to receive the vaccine. For more information about the seasonal flu vaccination, beneficiaries can call the 92nd MDG Immunizations Clinic at (509) 247- 5284.