As the weather cools and the trees lose their leaves, flu season quietly creeps up on us.

Influenza, more commonly known as influenza, is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. Flu seasons are unpredictable and can impact the readiness and missions of Department of Defense (DoD) forces. Vaccination is the main method of preventing influenza and its complications.

In a preventative effort to vaccinate the 38,000 Soldiers and Army Civilian Professionals (ACPs) at Fort Bliss against influenza, William Beaumont Army Medical Center (WBAMC) sent a team to administer approximately 600 vaccines at the Center. Noncommissioned Officer Leadership Excellence (NCOLCoE). ) and Sergeants Major Academy (SGM-A) from November 4 to 5. The team also visited Fort Bliss NCO Academy later in the week, where they administered another 50 vaccinations.

Brandon Thomas, Health Technician-Vaccine Coordinator, along with a team from WBAMC, set up a vaccination campaign on the NCOLCoE and SGM-A campuses. This allowed Sergeants Major Academy students and staff to receive a flu vaccine with minimal disruption to the academic calendar.

Thomas reported that his team’s visit to NCOLCoE and SGM-A was a success, with the majority of students being vaccinated. “We organize and send teams to units that do not have their own medical assets, to cover as much of Fort Bliss as possible.” He said teams will be available at Freedom Crossing every Saturday in November to administer flu shots to military personnel, ACPs, their dependents, retirees and children over three years old.

To maintain global mission readiness, the Army requires Soldiers to be 100 percent compliant with flu vaccinations, a goal the NCOLCoE is close to achieving.

Staff Sgt. Edwin Zerr, one of the team members responsible for vaccinations, said: “The flu vaccine has been around for a long time and has been proven to be safe and reduces the risk of getting the flu. » He further said that getting vaccinated is the best way to mitigate the spread of the virus.

In their vaccination efforts, WBAMC teams will continue the process of sending teams to NCOLCoE, Fort Bliss NCO Academy and other units around Fort Bliss to ensure maximum vaccination and will conduct free vaccination drives additional locations around Fort Bliss.

The Center for Disease Control states that each year in the United States, between 9.3 and 41 million people contract the flu, 100,000 to 710,000 of these result in hospitalization, and 4,900 to 51,000 cases result in death by the flu and flu-related complications. Although the figures vary from year to year, they should not be taken lightly.