In what has become an annual commitment, Naval Hospital Bremerton's Influenza Vaccination Clinic was held over a recent five-day stretch for those that did not have the opportunity to be vaccinated this year.

NHB's Preventive Medicine Department provided necessary support for uniformed service members, eligible beneficiaries and DoD Civilians Nov. 6 at NHB's Health and Education Center on Naval Base Kitsap Bangor, and the steady flow that wrapped up on Nov. 10. There were 1,003 who received their vaccination - either by FluMist or injectable vaccine (shot) - on Friday the opening day, followed by 853 on Saturday, 770 on Sunday, 709 on Monday and 548 on Tuesday for an overall total of 3,882, with an average of 776 per day.

"Our beneficiary population has come to expect this influenza vaccination clinic and the turn-out was very good again this year. It takes a lot of planning, logistics, and advertising to make the clinic a success. By conducting it each year we've been able to streamline the process so that it goes pretty smoothly," said Lt. Cmdr. Steven D. Schutt, Preventive Medicine Department head.

The total number vaccinated parallels favorably to years past; there were approximately 4,600 last year, 4,193 in 2013, 4,425 in 2012, 3,972 in 2011 and 3,737 in 2010.

"Our daily average is comparable to our previous efforts, even with one less day holding the event and the opportunity three weeks later than it was in 2014," shared Schutt.

The vaccine is also available in NHB's Immunization Clinic, on the second floor of the Family Care Center, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

"Beneficiaries who were unable to attend the flu clinic can now receive the vaccine at the NHB immunizations clinic or the Branch Health Clinic immunization clinics if eligible," Schutt said.

More information can be obtained at NHB's Flu Hotline, (360) 315-4469.

"The feedback we've received from our beneficiaries has been overwhelmingly positive, and the team of NHB staff-members who participated in the clinic did a fantastic job," added Schutt.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) states that an annual influenza vaccination is recommended for everyone over 6 months of age who do not have adverse reactions. Children younger than six months are considered not old enough to receive a flu shot. A vaccination should occur before onset of influenza activity in the community. Health care providers should offer vaccination soon after vaccine becomes available and should be offered as long as influenza viruses are circulating. The two ways of receiving the vaccine are with FluMist (nasal spray vaccine) or an injectable vaccine (shot).

The nasal spray vaccine is approved for use in people 2 years through 49 years of age. People who cannot get the nasal spray vaccine are children younger than 2 years and adults 50 years and older.

"FluMist is for healthy people ages 2-49 years. ACIP strongly recommends that healthy children receive FluMist since recent studies show a better coverage in children than the injectable," explained Blaine Brock, Preventive Medicine Department Division Officer.

Immunization is the primary method of reducing seasonal influenza illness and also lessens any associated complications by enhancing force immunity. The seasonal influenza vaccine helps protect vaccinated individuals, as well as protects entire communities by preventing and reducing the spread of the disease.

"Everyone who is at least six months of age should get a flu vaccine. It's especially important for some people to get vaccinated, such as people who are at high risk of developing serious complications like pneumonia if they get sick with the flu, and people who have certain medical conditions including asthma, diabetes and chronic lung disease. People who are 65 years and older need to get the vaccine, as do pregnant women and people who live with or care for others who are a high risk of developing serious complications," stressed Dr. Dan Frederick, NHB Population Health expert, adding that influenza is not the common cold and that the vaccination not only helps protect families, it also helps prevent the loss of work and is the primary form of prevention.

Influenza can be a severe to life-threatening disease and getting an annual influenza vaccine immunization (either the traditional shot in the arm or the newer nasal spray vaccine) protects many people from getting the disease or becoming severely ill.

CDC compiled statistics show that between 1976 and 2006, flu-associated deaths in the United States range from an estimated low of approximately 3,000 to a high of 49,000. Influenza continues to be a concern for health official and of course for those afflicted. CDC also notes that over 125,000 tests came back positive for the virus in 2014, an upswing of 42 percent from the previous year.

"By getting vaccinated, we are not only protecting our beneficiary populations, but we are also protecting those who cannot get immunized, such as those with allergies to vaccine components or newborns," Schutt said.

NHB Preventive Medicine team stresses that there are also multiple steps that can be done daily to mitigate the potential spread of the flu such as; maintaining a clean work environment; good hygiene practices and managing workforce exposure--social distancing, te le working, sick leave, etc. are all effective methods to reduce the risk of spreading influenza.

The CDC also cites that influenza is thought to spread mainly from people touching something with influenza viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose. One of the challenging aspects of flu is that someone who becomes infected can infect others one day before they have symptoms and up to five days after becoming sick. Influenza usually causes mild to severe illness, and uncommonly can lead to death. Symptoms of influenza include fever, headache, extreme tiredness, dry cough, sore throat, chills, runny or stuffy nose and muscle aches. Stomach symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea also can occur but are more common in children than adults. Traditionally, seasonal flu impacts the elderly and the young.

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