Big "E" Takes Their Best Shot

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Brooks B. Patton, Jr., USS Enterprise Public Affairs

USS ENTERPRISE, At sea (NNS) -- As the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65) was conducting its Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX) Oct. 8, the crew faced another challenge besides the rigors of these simulated war games.

The cold and flu season is here, and a Sailor's cough or sneeze could mean the spread of a potentially life-threatening virus that can directly impact the ship's warfighting capability.

The flu can decimate a ship's crew, especially due to the close-quarter living arrangement inherent to shipboard life.

"If we didn't administer the flu shot it could potentially knock out more than 50 percent of the crew and could result in many hospitalizations," said Chief Hospital Corpsman (SW/FMF) Thomas P. Dewitt, Medical department's chief of preventive medicine.

Even if one has had the flu shot before or is not prone to getting sick, they should get the vaccination. The influenza virus is always changing, and annual vaccinations are highly recommended. Each year's shot is different from the previous.

Instead of thousands of Sailors waiting in line to receive shots, the creative Sailors in Big E's Medical department developed a rotation to allow the maximum number of Sailors in line that can effectively be inoculated while the remaining come back on a first-come, first-serve basis when the line is empty.

Due to the sudden nature of last year's H1N1 outbreak, the vaccination had to be manufactured after the influenza A and B vaccinations were already issued. This resulted in Sailors having to receive two shots.

This year's single shot includes all vaccinations, and the short waiting time incentivizes the effort.

According to the World Health Organization, 49,000 people died in the U.S. alone from the virus in the 2007 – 2008 flu season, while an estimated 3 to 5 million were stricken worldwide.

As the Sailors and Marines of the Enterprise Strike Group are gearing up for the warship's 21st deployment, the overall health of the crew is critical to mission readiness.

The Enterprise Strike Group consists of Enterprise, the guided missile destroyers USS Bulkeley (DDG 84), USS Barry (DDG 52) and USS Mason (DDG 87), the guided-missile cruiser USS Leyte Gulf (CG 56), USNS Arctic (T-AOE 8), Carrier Air Wing 1 and Destroyer Squadron 2.

The Enterprise Strike Group is conducting COMPTUEX as part of its work-ups in preparation for the upcoming deployment. For more information about Enterprise, Carrier Strike Group 12 or Carrier Air Wing 1 visit www.Enterprise.navy.mil, WWW.ccsg12.surfor.navy.mil, and www.cvw1.navy.mil. You can also visit www.news.navy.mil/local/cvn65.>

For more news from USS Enterprise (CVN 65), visit www.navy.mil/local/cvn65/.