Many Ways for Hill Personnel to Get Flu Vaccine

HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah, Sept. 21 -- The U.S. Air Force (75th Air Base Wing) issued the following news:

Base officials are partnering with the Davis County Health Department to make it easier for Hill's personnel to receive the flu vaccine this year.

The flu shot will not be available to all Tricare beneficiaries at the 75th Medical Group until adequate vaccination supplies are received, but the DCHD will be on base offering no-out-of-pocket-cost influenza, Tdap, and pneumonia vaccinations to Tricare dependents and retirees, as well as federal service and contract employees.

The U.S. and the rest of the Northern Hemisphere are bracing for another potentially severe flu season. The 2017-2018 flu season became one of the most severe seasons on record, excluding pandemics, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In general, flu season in the U.S. begins in October and tapers off in May. In the Southern Hemisphere, flu season is well under way. Typically, the U.S. sees influenza strains similar to those circulating in the Southern Hemisphere; however, circulating flu viruses can mutate and change throughout the year, making it easier for the virus to infect people who have not been vaccinated.

Public Health officials say this year, everyone 6 months of age and older should receive the flu vaccine by the end of October.

The 75th Medical Group Immunization Clinic will also soon focus their efforts on vaccinating the active duty population. Active duty members are currently "due" for the influenza vaccine; however, members will not affect unit Individual Medical Readiness rates until Jan. 1, 2019. The Department of Defense goal is to vaccinate 90 percent of the active-duty population by Dec. 15, 2018.

The vaccine has been adjusted for the approaching flu season in hopes of targeting the strains that may circulate this year. The nasal spray flu mist vaccines have also been reformulated and are now a recommended option.

The nasal spray is available on-base only at the DCHD flu clinics and is approved for non-pregnant individuals ages 2-49.

In addition, the DCHD will also offer the shingles vaccine only at the Commissary clinics for those individuals age 50 to 65 years of age.

Members can bring their health insurance cards or military dependent/retiree identification to one of the 20 scheduled on-base clinics:

Sept. 26, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m., Building 847, Large Conference Room

Oct. 2, 10 a.m.-noon, Building 849, B-41 Conference Room

Oct. 3, 9-11 a.m., Building 1580 AF Nuc. Weapons Room 150

Oct. 4, 3 p.m.-5:30 p.m., For CDC West (Base Chapel Heritage Room)

Oct. 5, 3 p.m.-5:30 p.m., For CDC East (Base Chapel Heritage Room)

Oct. 10, 8-10 a.m., Building 1289, Southwest Conference Room

Oct. 11, 7:30-10:00 a.m., Building 1209 Conference Room

Oct. 12, 12-5 p.m., Commissary Foyer

Oct. 15, 6:30-9:30 a.m., Building 225 Joe Bailey Conference Room

Oct. 16, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Building 843, EMXG Conference Room

Oct. 17, 7-10 a.m., Building 507, Roessler Conference Room

Oct. 18, 12-5 p.m., Warrior Gym Foyer

Oct. 23, 8-11 a.m., Building 100F (Ray Close)

Oct. 24, 7:30-11 a.m., Building 1515 Exec. Conf. Room

Oct. 25, 12-3 p.m., building 674, break room

Oct. 26, 12-3p.m., Commissary foyer

Oct. 30, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Building 238 (West Side)

Nov. 6, 7:30-11 a.m., BX foyer

Nov. 7, 12-5 p.m., Warrior gym foyer

Nov. 15, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., The Landing (fall expo)

Below is an alphabetical list of all the Health Insurance agencies DCHD is authorized to bill:

AARP - HMO

AARP Medicare Complete - flu and pneumonia only

Altius (Aetna POS II)

Blue Cross Blue Shield

Definity - HMO

Deseret Mutual Benefits (DMBA)

Deseret Choice

Deseret Alliance - HMO

Educators Mutual

GEHA

Health Choice Utah - Medicaid

Humana - PPO

Humana X - only for commercial mailhandlers

Med Advantage - HMO

Medicare

RailRoad Medicare

Medicaid

Molina - Medicaid and Medicare only

PEHP

Selecthealth, Selectmed, Selectvalue

Sterling - HMO

Tricare

UMR

United Health

University Health HealthyU - Medicaid Only

UPREHS - HMO

You can print out the DCHD required screening form to bring with you to your clinic, click here.