Photo By Gustave Rehnstrom | Winn ACH Medical Company Commander, Capt. Hanson, volunteers at the Fort Stewart...... read more read more
Captain Kimberly Hanson adjusted her gloves and walked towards the first car that pulled up at the Winn Army Community Hospital Influenza Vaccination Drive-Through Clinic Nov. 5 on Fort Stewart.
The car was occupied by a mother and her child. They were the first of many with nearly 2,400 Soldiers and Civilians being vaccinated during the two day event.
Hanson, a young mother herself, understands the importance of keeping families protected.
“I know the value this year is very important," Hanson said, noting the ongoing coronavirus made it doubly important to reduce the threat to Soldiers and their Families and reduce the impact on medical resources.
Hanson is Winn Army Community Hospital’s Medical Company commander, but she volunteered her time as a screener alongside the Soldiers and civilians of the Fort Stewart Installation Public Health team, Nov. 5-6.
“We have put in hours and hours of work to get this done," Maj Mbah, the IPH director said. "We are following the CDC guidelines on how to safely carry on this event, and still maintain that social distancing and prevent the spread of COVID. This is the first year that we done this with COVID. So, we've put in a lot of work.”
As the vehicles began to pass through each station Michele Parker with Public Health worked in collaboration with Hanson to ensure the youngest beneficiaries safely received their pediatric dose.
“It's very important to be able to provide this to children six months, and over," Parker said. "The flu is a, is a dangerous respiratory disorder, and it's even more dangerous to children over the age of six months. So being able to provide that for them is very rewarding.”
The event was originally scheduled for three days on Fort Stewart and two days on Hunter Army Airfield. But Day three and the Hunter events had to be postponed until additional vaccinations arrive.
Currently, the only available influenza vaccines are for children between the ages of 6 months and 36 months, and beneficiaries greater than 65 years of age. The children’s flu vaccine is available in the pediatric and allergy immunization clinics. For those 65 years and older, the flu vaccines is available at Winn ACH’s Allergy and Immunization clinic.
The Flu vaccine is covered by TRICARE with no cost-shares or copayments if it’s administered by a pharmacist at a participating network pharmacy or by a TRICARE-authorized provider.
Some local network pharmacies include Walgreen, the Hinesville Pharmacy, Rite Aide, the Richmond Hill Pharmacy, Walmart, Kroger and Publix.
There are a lot of hometown pharmacies in network. Beneficiaries can call Express Script at 877-363-1303 or go to www.tricare.mil to confirm local pharmacies.
Note: CVS Pharmacy is not within the TRICARE network. Remember to keep a copy of your vaccination record. A copayment or cost-shares will apply if given within outpatient office visit, though the vaccine is free. Minute Clinics within the network pharmacies which can lead to charges so ask before you check-in.
| Date Taken: | 11.12.2020 |
| Date Posted: | 12.11.2020 11:21 |
| Story ID: | 382870 |
| Location: | FORT STEWART, GA, US |
| Web Views: | 19 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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