Medical Center Prepares Sailors and Families for Flu Season

Courtesy Photo | Capt. Alan Labeouf, assigned to U.S. Fleet Forces Command receives his annual flu vaccination from Seaman Joshua Lukacovic, assigned to Naval Medical Center Portsmouth's Immunization Clinic, during a health fair at the Joint Forces Staff College, Nov. 12.  

UNITED STATES

11.13.2008

Courtesy Story

Navy Public Affairs Support Element East - (Reserve)

By Petty Officer 3rd Class Coleman Thompson
Fleet Public Affairs Center Atlantic

NORFOLK, Va. – With the Flu Season already in full effect, Naval Medical Center Portsmouth is doing everything it can to get service members in the Hampton Roads area immunized against the potentially deadly virus.

Every year more than 30,000 people in the United States die from influenza, making it the sixth leading cause of death among adults. There are also more than 500,000 people that are hospitalized from symptoms associated the flu. What some people don't realize is that this disease is preventable.

"Influenza is a vaccine preventable disease," said CherylAnn Kraft, immunization regional program manager, NMCP. "There are ways to decrease the spread of diseases, such as washing your hands, but the only way to effectively prevent flu is to get vaccinated. It is recommended by the Center for Disease Control that all high-risk patients get vaccinated. It's also recommended for all children up to 18 years old, because children are one of the highest populations for passing the disease."

The influenza vaccine comes in two different forms. The first is a standard injection that is made up of an inactivated version of the virus. This allows the body to adapt its immune system to the actual influenza virus.

The second form is a nasal spray, which not only allows the immune system to adapt and prevent the virus, but by inhaling it through the nostrils it creates immunoglobulin protection in the nasal cavity as a first line of defense. The spray is available to anyone from 2-49.

"The nasal spray has proven to be 20-25 percent more effective in preventing influenza, specifically in the pediatric population," said Kraft.

NMCP has already provided 15,000 doses of the nasal spray and 9,000 doses of the injection. The medical center also boasts one of the highest national averages for having 95 percent of its staff immunized.

In addition to the vaccination clinic, NMCP has also started sending out teams to commands throughout the Hampton Roads area to bring immunizations to the deckplates.

"It's hard for some commands to come see us because they are too busy working," said Seaman Joshua Lukacovic, immunization technician. "So we come to them with the vaccine, which helps promote their mission readiness."

Lukacovic and several other corpsmen from NMCP recently set up a mobile clinic at Surface Forces Atlantic to immunize the staff there and provide valuable information for staying healthy.

"Preventative medicine, in my opinion, is the number one thing for personal wellness and health," said Senior Chief Petty Officer Patrick Modglin, the event organizer from SURFLANT. "Manpower is our most important asset; and we want to lead from the front with force-medical readiness."

The teams will continue to travel to other commands throughout the flu season, and vaccinations are available at NMCP as well as most local clinics.

• Date Taken: 11.13.2008
• Date Posted: 11.13.2008 14:36
• Story ID: 26297
• Location: US