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Chris Orose  |  MILVAX

November 29, 2010

The seasonal influenza vaccination campaign is a cornerstone of military medical readiness, and that was on display early November at Fort Gordon, GA, thanks to dozens of staff members and thousands of service members.

The first staff shift reported two hours after midnight to prepare for the campaign. Ten hours later, more than 9,000 soldiers, sailors, Marines and civilians had been screened and immunized against seasonal influenza as part of a mass vaccination effort on November 3.

Over 9,000 Fort Gordon soldiers lined up outside the Gym 5 on Nov. 10 to recieve thier flumist, or shot. (photo credit: MILVAX) With the help of registered nurses as initial screeners, 50 immunizers, four physicians and a dozen clerks documenting immunizations into medical records, the first soldiers walked through the door at 5 a.m. to receive the mandatory influenza vaccination, be exempted if they had contraindications, or document a vaccination they previously received at another location.

In order to hold such a massive event and to ensure it went smoothly, every service member was screened first to determine if they were eligible to receive the vaccine (42 people had temporary or permanent exemptions, and some 300 had already received this year’s flu vaccination). After an eligibility criterion was determined, those attending were directed to one of 10 tables where the vaccine was administered. Eight of those tables were giving FluMist, a live-virus intranasal vaccine licensed for those ages 2-49. For those who could not receive FluMist, two tables were set up to give injectable vaccine.

Since documentation of immunization is crucial, 14 people were charged with keeping track of vaccine lot numbers, ‘vaccinees’ personal information, and who administered the vaccine. Every immunization given or received prior to the event was accurately documented in the appropriate service’s Immunization Tracking System by noon on that same day.

The next step of this far-reaching immunization program will be to send shot teams to units that could not attend the Nov.3 program (approximately 2,100 personnel, including National Guard and Reserve units).

It is because of efforts like this, and others modeled after it around the world, that DoD’s mandatory flu vaccination policy has been so effective at preventing illness and preserving readiness, and why DoD’s compliance rate has steadily increased to the point of last year’s highest-ever.

Health Care [News]  |  Ft. Gordon   MILVAX   vaccines   influenza