Fort Bliss Monitor

Vaccine may be available to at-risk population

COMPILED BY CLARENCE DAVIS III
WBAMC Public Affairs

Yesterday, the William Beaumont Army Medical Center received two additional shipments of the influenza vaccine. These additional shipments enable us to provide the vaccine to our high-risk beneficiary population to include military retirees. These vaccines will help avoid complications from influenza infection such as pneumonia and death.

The high risk population includes:

• children aged 6 to 23 months;

• adults aged 65 years and older;

• people aged 2 to 64 years with specific underlying chronic medical conditions;

• women who are pregnant during the influenza season;

• residents of nursing homes and long-term care facilities;

• children aged 6 months to 18 years on chronic aspirin therapy;

vout of home caregivers and household contacts of infants less than 6 months old;

• health-care workers who have direct and regular contact with patients.

According to Lt. Col. Wayne T. Frank, chief, Department of Medicine, the WBAMC staff will identify and begin to contact these beneficiaries within the next several days. Vaccinations will be scheduled from Nov. 15-18. If you are not contacted, and you believe that you are at risk, please call your primary care provider for a note or consult stating why you are at-risk. Beginning in December, if there is additional vaccine and active duty soldiers have been immunized, we will continue vaccination of the beneficiary population.

The Department of Defense is pursuing a contract with MedImmune, makers of FluMist, a flu vaccine spray administered through the nose. This can be used only by healthy people between the ages of 5 and 49 years. Once available, it may assist in vaccination of health care workers and other healthy Soldiers.

The flu vaccination is mandatory for Soldiers designated to receive it. Flu is a contagious illness that can degrade the effectiveness of a unit. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, each year in the United States flu is responsible for some 200,000 hospitalizations and 36,000 deaths.

Tips on staying healthy without getting a flu shot

LINDA ANDERSON
Texas Cooperative Extension

COLLEGE STATION, Tx. – Flu shots are in short supply this year. For those who usually protect themselves with flu shots but will be unable to this year, Texas Cooperative Exten-sion experts offer some advice: don’t panic.

Dr. Carol Rice, Extension health specialist, and Andrew Crocker, Extension gerontology and health specialist, said these common-sense health tips could help this winter, even if flu shots are not an option.

• Wash hands as often as possible. Frequent use of soap and water can go a long way toward reducing instances of winter illnesses, Rice said.

“Most cold and flu germs are spread by direct contact,” Crocker said. “If you were to sneeze into your hand and then touch a doorknob, the germs (from your sneeze, to your hand, to the doorknob) may stay on that doorknob for hours – even days.” Washing hands will prevent germs from spreading from person to person this way.

• Cover sneezes and coughs. Keep tissues or a handkerchief handy to cover your nose and mouth if you have to sneeze or cough. That will keep germs from spreading into the air, where they can infect others, Crocker said.

Covering your sneeze with your hand isn’t very sanitary, he said, especially if you immediately touch someone or something.

“If you do cover a sneeze or cough with your hands, remember to wash your hands immediately.”
If a tissue or handkerchief isn’t handy, he suggested turning away from others and coughing into the air.

• Get moving. Get regular exercise, such as walking for 30 minutes each day, Rice said. “Studies show this helps you avoid getting sick because your immune system is more effective.”

• Eat a healthy diet. Be sure to choose a variety of foods, Rice advised. “The food guide pyramid can help you make good choices.”

• Keep stress to a minimum. Recent studies show individuals who have a positive attitude are less likely to catch colds than individuals whose attitude is more negative, Crocker said. Healthy and positive attitudes also promote healthy lifestyle habits, he said, which can also mean fewer illnesses.

• Sleep. Quality sleep helps the body recover from illness, Rice said. Getting enough sleep can also be an important step in preventing some illnesses in the first place, she said.

The National Sleep Foundation (www.sleepfoundation.org) offers these tips:

• Keep a regular sleep schedule to help keep the body’s natural rhythm in balance.

• Avoid caffeine, nicotine and alcohol, which can all have negative effects on sleep.

• Don’t go to bed on a full stomach.

• Finish exercise workouts at least three hours before bedtime.

• Relax before bed. Try soaking in a warm bath, reading or listening to soothing music.

• Sleep on a comfortable, supportive mattress and keep the room dark, quiet, cool and comfortable.

• Daytime naps should be short and sweet – no more than 20 to 30 minutes.

If you do come down with the flu, experts from the Mayo Clinic advise getting rest, drinking fluids, avoiding alcohol and tobacco and seeking medical advice.

Take antiviral medication if prescribed and above all, don’t go to work, school or anywhere else you might spread the disease to others.

For more information, go to www.mayoclinic.com/index.cfm and click on the link to Infectious Disease..



www.bliss.army.mil	Published for the Fort Bliss/El Paso, Texas Community	November 4 , 2004

<map name="boxmap-b4"> <area shape="rect" coords="0, 589, 120, 600" href="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm/privacy-policy.html?o=1" > <area coords="0,0,10000,10000" href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=&creative=92501&camp=8117&link_code=dl1&path=subst/misc/amazon-cobrand-cc/v3/marketing-from-associates-step1.html/ref%3Db1_assoc_29" > </map>	Vaccine may be available to at-risk population COMPILED BY CLARENCE DAVIS III WBAMC Public Affairs Yesterday, the William Beaumont Army Medical Center received two additional shipments of the influenza vaccine. These additional shipments enable us to provide the vaccine to our high-risk beneficiary population to include military retirees. These vaccines will help avoid complications from influenza infection such as pneumonia and death. The high risk population includes: • children aged 6 to 23 months; • adults aged 65 years and older; • people aged 2 to 64 years with specific underlying chronic medical conditions; • women who are pregnant during the influenza season; • residents of nursing homes and long-term care facilities; • children aged 6 months to 18 years on chronic aspirin therapy; vout of home caregivers and household contacts of infants less than 6 months old; • health-care workers who have direct and regular contact with patients. According to Lt. Col. Wayne T. Frank, chief, Department of Medicine, the WBAMC staff will identify and begin to contact these beneficiaries within the next several days. Vaccinations will be scheduled from Nov. 15-18. If you are not contacted, and you believe that you are at risk, please call your primary care provider for a note or consult stating why you are at-risk. Beginning in December, if there is additional vaccine and active duty soldiers have been immunized, we will continue vaccination of the beneficiary population. The Department of Defense is pursuing a contract with MedImmune, makers of FluMist, a flu vaccine spray administered through the nose. This can be used only by healthy people between the ages of 5 and 49 years. Once available, it may assist in vaccination of health care workers and other healthy Soldiers. The flu vaccination is mandatory for Soldiers designated to receive it. Flu is a contagious illness that can degrade the effectiveness of a unit. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, each year in the United States flu is responsible for some 200,000 hospitalizations and 36,000 deaths. Tips on staying healthy without getting a flu shot LINDA ANDERSON Texas Cooperative Extension COLLEGE STATION, Tx. – Flu shots are in short supply this year. For those who usually protect themselves with flu shots but will be unable to this year, Texas Cooperative Exten-sion experts offer some advice: don’t panic. Dr. Carol Rice, Extension health specialist, and Andrew Crocker, Extension gerontology and health specialist, said these common-sense health tips could help this winter, even if flu shots are not an option. • Wash hands as often as possible. Frequent use of soap and water can go a long way toward reducing instances of winter illnesses, Rice said. “Most cold and flu germs are spread by direct contact,” Crocker said. “If you were to sneeze into your hand and then touch a doorknob, the germs (from your sneeze, to your hand, to the doorknob) may stay on that doorknob for hours – even days.” Washing hands will prevent germs from spreading from person to person this way. • Cover sneezes and coughs. Keep tissues or a handkerchief handy to cover your nose and mouth if you have to sneeze or cough. That will keep germs from spreading into the air, where they can infect others, Crocker said. Covering your sneeze with your hand isn’t very sanitary, he said, especially if you immediately touch someone or something. “If you do cover a sneeze or cough with your hands, remember to wash your hands immediately.” If a tissue or handkerchief isn’t handy, he suggested turning away from others and coughing into the air. • Get moving. Get regular exercise, such as walking for 30 minutes each day, Rice said. “Studies show this helps you avoid getting sick because your immune system is more effective.” • Eat a healthy diet. Be sure to choose a variety of foods, Rice advised. “The food guide pyramid can help you make good choices.” • Keep stress to a minimum. Recent studies show individuals who have a positive attitude are less likely to catch colds than individuals whose attitude is more negative, Crocker said. Healthy and positive attitudes also promote healthy lifestyle habits, he said, which can also mean fewer illnesses. • Sleep. Quality sleep helps the body recover from illness, Rice said. Getting enough sleep can also be an important step in preventing some illnesses in the first place, she said. The National Sleep Foundation (www.sleepfoundation.org) offers these tips: • Keep a regular sleep schedule to help keep the body’s natural rhythm in balance. • Avoid caffeine, nicotine and alcohol, which can all have negative effects on sleep. • Don’t go to bed on a full stomach. • Finish exercise workouts at least three hours before bedtime. • Relax before bed. Try soaking in a warm bath, reading or listening to soothing music. • Sleep on a comfortable, supportive mattress and keep the room dark, quiet, cool and comfortable. • Daytime naps should be short and sweet – no more than 20 to 30 minutes. If you do come down with the flu, experts from the Mayo Clinic advise getting rest, drinking fluids, avoiding alcohol and tobacco and seeking medical advice. Take antiviral medication if prescribed and above all, don’t go to work, school or anywhere else you might spread the disease to others. For more information, go to www.mayoclinic.com/index.cfm and click on the link to Infectious Disease..