No timetable yet for H1N1 vaccines on bases in Europe

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No timetable yet for H1N1 vaccines on bases in Europe
By Jennifer H. Svan, Stars and Stripes
European edition, Saturday, October 24, 2009

Defense Department officials said this week they don’t know when H1N1 the influenza vaccine will be available to the U.S. military community in Europe. But Europe Regional Medical Command officials said they anticipate the vaccine will be available sometime in November.

When it does arrive, there’s a chance the first doses will be for family members and civilians — and not active-duty members, even those getting ready to deploy.

Despite DOD’s intentions to get the vaccine to deploying troops as quickly as possible, the vaccine for dependents, if it arrives first, cannot be given to troops instead, according to DOD spokeswoman Cynthia Smith.

That’s due to “a variety of reasons,” Smith wrote in an e-mail to Stars and Stripes.

Military officials said the H1N1 vaccine is being provided through two vaccine programs. Sanofi-Pasteur is making the vaccine for nonuniformed beneficiaries, according to Europe Regional Medical Command. Priority groups for this vaccine include pregnant women, infants, children, teenagers and young adults, and older adults with underlying medical conditions.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=65615