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Flu vaccines now available at Fairchild

Published Sept. 24, 2013
By Airman 1st Class Ryan Zeski
92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- Flu season is swiftly approaching; the 92nd Medical Group now has flu shots available to active duty at this time.

According to the Center for Disease Control, the illness can range from being a mild sickness to a very serious condition. Symptoms of the flu include pneumonia, a fever, coughing, sore throat, muscle aches, headaches and feeling fatigued.

Children as young as six months old are eligible for the vaccine. Each year an average of 20,000 children younger than five years of age are hospitalized due to flu symptoms.

"The flu vaccine not only protects yourself but others around you," said Tech. Sgt. Shelly Carter, 92nd Medical Group NCO in charge of immunizations. "If your vaccine-primed immune system stops an illness before it starts, you will be contagious for a much shorter period of time, or perhaps not at all."

Most squadrons will have at least one flu line for active duty members. If the member misses the flu line, walk-ins are permitted at the immunizations clinic at any time. Although they recommend not coming in Friday mornings until after 8:30 a.m. due to the smallpox clinic.

The hours of operation for the Immunizations clinic are 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. The clinic is closed every third Wednesday in the afternoon and on holidays/wing events.

For more information on when the flu vaccine will become available to dependents and retirees check the Immunizations clinic's voicemail at 509-247-8482 for updates.