FORT JACKSON, S.C. -- The H1N1 vaccine is now available to all DoD card holders at Fort Jackson.
As recently as December, the H1N1 flu vaccine was restricted by age, medical condition and job to ensure limited supplies went to those at higher risk of contracting the illness.
But now the vaccine is available to anyone living or working on post.
Fort Jackson has about 20,000 doses of the H1N1 vaccine and about 9,000 doses of the seasonal flu vaccine left.
The Moncrief Army Community Hospital will offer the vaccine free at the flu clinic at the Solomon Center for anyone 4 years or older. The only thing required is a valid DoD identification card.
"We would like to have all active duty on post vaccinated by the end of January, except (BCT Soldiers), whom we will continue to vaccinate as they start training," said Maj. Soo Kim-Delio, MACH's Flu Team officer-in-charge. "We will continue to vaccinate Soldiers, civilians and beneficiaries until the end of the flu season as long as we have the vaccine available.
The flu clinic hours are Monday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and every other Saturday, starting Jan. 9, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Children who are 3 years old and younger must receive their vaccinations from the Family Health Clinic at the MACH, Kim-Delio said.
Since October, medical teams have been sent to units to vaccinate Soldiers for the seasonal flu. In November, they began H1N1 vaccinations.
All Basic Combat Training and Advance Individual Training Soldiers were vaccinated against H1N1 before block leave began Dec. 17.
Any remaining Soldiers who have not been inoculated against either the seasonal or H1N1 strains are asked to go through their units to get vaccinated, rather than visit the flu clinic, Kim-Delio said.
So far, 12,000 military personnel and 2,000 civilians at Fort Jackson have received H1N1 immunizations, Kim-Delio said. Another 22,000 military personnel and 7,000 civilians have received seasonal flu vaccinations, she said.
Most doses of both the seasonal and H1N1 vaccines are in nasal spray form. Because the injectable doses are limited, they are only available for those with high-risk medical conditions and weakened immune systems.
Kim-Delio recommends that those who haven't been inoculated get vaccinated before another possible outbreak of H1N1 this spring.
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