Base immunization clinic administers H1N1 vaccine

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Michael O'Connor
  • 31st Fighter Wing public affairs
AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy --  The 31st Medical Group received its first shipment of the H1N1 vaccine here last week and began administering the vaccines per Department of Defense guidance.

First to receive the vaccine are military servicemembers, health care workers and those designated as high-risk followed by DoD civilians, family members and contractors.

"The immunization clinic initially vaccinated the medical group's health care personnel here last week," said Staff Sgt. Christian Baldwin, 31st Medical Operations Squadron allergy immunology technician.

Sergeant Baldwin said the 31st MDOS began immunizing the rest of those designated to receive the vaccine as part of the initial shipment Monday at a centralized immunization location on Area F of the base.

As of 1 p.m. Nov. 20, more than 2,600 of the more than 3,500 personnel assigned to the 31st Fighter Wing have received the vaccine, said Sergeant Baldwin. He said he's hoping his unit will be the first in U.S. Air Forces in Europe Command and in the Air Force to meet the Air Force goal of 90 percent immunized by Dec. 15, 2009.

The following are a series of links with a variety of information on keeping you informed on H1N1.
Air Force Website H1N1 Page: http://www.af.mil/h1n1/index.asp
CDC H1N1 Website: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/
U.S. Department of Health for Human Services and Flu: http://www.flu.gov/
DoD Pandemic and Influenza Watchboard: http://fhp.osd.mil/aiWatchboard/
World Health Organization: http://www.who.int/en/
AFN Openline H1N1 and You: Original Air Date: Nov. 18, 2009
http://www.afneurope.net/Home/ArticleDisplayDD/tabid/649/Default.aspx?aid=10583