Over the past two weeks, Naval Hospital Jacksonville (including its branch health clinics) conducted a series of mass vaccinations of health care staff and active duty personnel aboard Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany, Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Naval Air Station Key West, Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, and Naval Station Mayport.
“This is an essential part of what we do, for a medically ready force and a ready medical force,” said Capt. Matthew Case, Naval Hospital Jacksonville commander and Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command Jacksonville commanding officer.
The mass vaccinations exercised the command’s pandemic vaccination plan, and provided the required flu vaccine to active duty personnel and health care workers aboard the installations.
Vaccinations for personnel assigned to NAS Jacksonville took place in multiple locations, including Dewey’s and hangars at the flight line. Vaccinations for health care staff took place at the hospital and branch health clinic.
“We train like we fight,” said Dana Shropshire, emergency management officer for Naval Hospital Jacksonville. “We’re honing our quick-response capabilities, in case there were ever an outbreak of a vaccine-preventable disease.”
Vaccination is the first and most important step in protecting against the flu. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends vaccination with an injectable flu vaccine for everyone age six months and older. Flu vaccine is required for active duty military personnel, selected reserves, and health care workers.
Families and retirees should check NH Jacksonville’s Facebook page, which will announce when flu shots are available at the hospital and branch health clinics. It’s estimated that beginning on Oct. 15, patients assigned to the hospital can walk-in to receive flu vaccination Monday through Wednesday, and Friday, 7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., or Thursdays 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Check Facebook for a confirmed start date.
For more information. call Immunizations at 904-542-7810 (hospital) or 904-546-7050 (BHC Jacksonville for active duty).
For 24/7 clinical advice, call the Nurse Advice Line at 800-TRICARE (800-874-2273) or chat at www.mhsNurseAdviceLine.com.
To securely email your care team (for non-urgent issues), sign up for free at www.TOLSecureMessaging.com.
Naval Hospital Jacksonville and Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command Jacksonville deliver quality health care, in an integrated system of readiness and health. NH Jacksonville includes five branch health clinics across Florida and Georgia. It serves 163,000 active-duty and retired sailors, Marines, soldiers, airmen, guardsmen, and their families, including 84,000 patients who are enrolled with a primary care manager. To find out more, visit www.med.navy.mil/sites/navalhospitaljax.