Guard Gets H1N1 Vaccinations

Week of November 16, 2009

The Defense Department acquired enough doses of the H1N1 flu vaccine to immunize all 460,000 members of the National Guard. The supply will go out to the Guard through the Army Medical Materiel Agency. All states ordered the vaccine through the agency, which is the same way that states order the seasonal flu vaccine. For Air Guard personnel, the H1N1 injectable vaccine has been ordered through the active-duty host base, using the same method and guidance as for the seasonal flu vaccine. Exact dates for shipments of the Defense Department vaccine will differ from state to state. The vaccine will be mandatory for uniformed personnel and highly encouraged for all others, according to a Defense Department memo. Priority will be given to deployed and deploying forces, new accession sites, including the service academies, and health care personnel.