There is still time for your flu and H1N1 vaccinations

By LTG Eric B. Schoomaker,
U.S. Army Surgeon General

22-Feb-2010 - The annual or seasonal flu is waning quickly, accompanied by a gratifying diminution of new cases and hospitalizations attributable to the novel H1N1 or "swine" flu. In fact, the novel H1N1 flu may have supplanted the seasonal flu this year. By all accounts, this new flu has proven to be less dangerous and less contagious than we had all feared. I like to believe that the efforts which you all, the Army & DoD, the Federal, state, county governments and private healthcare system have undertaken to protect us from this flu are bearing results. Meticulous attention to hand-washing, limiting handshakes and other behaviors which may spread infectious materials, getting vaccinated against the novel H1N1 flu as well as the seasonal flu, social isolation when ill--such as staying home from work and school--and other efforts to reduce the spread of the virus may well be proving effective.

I fear that because the virus has been less injurious to most of us that we will lose sight of what these efforts have done to protect us all. Protecting yourself and your families from the H1N1 and the seasonal flu should be a personal and professional priority.

For those of you who have not received one or both of the vaccinations, we may see a rise in seasonal influenza or another wave of H1N1 influenza. If you have not gotten your immunizations, please do so NOW. The novel H1N1 vaccine has been very safe and very effective.

Protect yourself:

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it. If a tissue isn’t available, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve or elbow (not your hands).

• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Viruses and bacteria ("Germs") spread this way.

• Avoid close contact with sick people if possible.

• If you are sick with flu-like illness, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care if you are very ill or for other necessities to sustain life. (Your fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.) Keep away from others as much as possible to keep from making others sick. Wear a mask when in close proximity to others.

Every opportunity which we have collectively to learn and practice these public and personal health efforts provides us with just that much more protection from future pandemic threats--natural, such as these flu epidemics--or man-made, as with a deliberate attack by a terrorist. Please continue your efforts to protect yourself, your families and friends and the community at large.