FORT MONMOUTH, N.J. -- Aside from normal preparations associated with the annual flu season, Fort Monmouth officials are also monitoring the potential for outbreaks of the H1N1 influenza, commonly known as the "swine flu."
All military personnel will be vaccinated against the H1N1 flu virus, and the vaccine will be available to all military family members who want it, according to a DoD official.
The department initially will receive one million doses of the H1N1 vaccine and another 1.7 million doses later in October.
"For the regular seasonal influenza vaccine, Patterson Army Health Clinic expects it will receive most of its vaccine in September or early October," said Col. Eric Olins, commander of the Patterson Army Health Clinic.
"We currently have a very limited supply of the vaccine and are not giving it out yet," he added. "Once it is available we will notify the various commands on Fort Monmouth and put an announcement in The Monmouth Message."
Olins said the first available vaccine doses will be available to high priority groups, including deployed or deploying personnel, critical support staff, and high risk groups.
"The priority is our military and their family members and the retirees and their family members as well as any civilians that are key and essential to the mission," Olins said. "Most of the civilians on Fort Monmouth who do not fall in these categories will either have to get their immunization from a civilian provider or have to wait until December, when Patterson offers this immunization to the DoD civilians."
Bernita Garrison, coordinator of Child, Youth and School Services, said standard health procedures already in place will continue to be followed.
"We're encouraging vigilant hand-washing and we already do that as part of our standard," she said. "We are encouraging parents, if their kids are sick, are running a temperature or have a runny nose, to keep them at home." Garrison said there are currently no plans to close facilities if flu outbreaks occur.
The symptoms of the H1N1 flu are almost the same as the seasonal flu: fever, sore throat, runny nose, nausea, muscle aches and feeling rundown. The H1N1 is an unusual combination of human, swine and avian flu viruses that was first detected in Mexico in February and quickly spread around the world.
According to the Center for Disease Control, persons most vulnerable to the H1N1 flu include pregnant women, health-care workers, those younger than 25 or older than 65, and those with pre-existing health conditions.
The H1N1 vaccine is also recommended for persons who live with or care for children younger than six months; emergency medical services personnel with direct patient contact; children six months through four years of age, and children five through 18 years of age who have chronic medical conditions.
Two Internet sites with information on the annual flu season and the H1N1 flu are http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/ and http://www.flu.gov.
"If someone gets sick they need to stay at home for 24 hours after their fever is gone," said Olins. "Their temperature must be normal without the use of Tylenol, Motrin or any other medication used to control their fever."
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