Hachey said he expects DOD to begin administering the vaccine in the first half of October. The department has purchased 2.7 million doses, according to Hachey.
He said the vaccine will also be available to DOD civilians and military family members who want it.
*****
Interesting news, but I kind of would like to hear how the DoD plans to vaccinate all the contractors in the war as well? Because after all, there are now more contractors than troops in places like Afghanistan, and each one of those contractors could easily pick up the flu at home and bring it back to the war zone they are working at and infect others.
Now the DoD did mention they would offer the vaccine to ‘DoD civilians’, but what does that mean? Is that all contractors, or just the ones that directly work for DoD at the PX’s and stuff? I think this needs to be clarified, if H1N1 is truly a concern to the government? I would like to hear a separate statement about what the DoD plans are for contractors.
This flu could also impact the war effort, because if a bunch of contractors pick up H1N1 because they were not protected, and then took it back to a war zone and passed it on to the local populations, then that could be bad. Especially if it got out that the foreigners ‘killed my brother’ by infecting him with H1N1. The Taliban or Al Qaeda could have a field day with this kind of stuff for propaganda purposes. It is something to think about for the war planners out there, that’s if H1N1 is really a concern to the DoD. –Matt
——————————————————————
DOD to require H1N1 flu vaccinations for all active-duty personnel
By Jennifer H. Svan, Stars and StripesFriday, September 4, 2009
Starting this fall, all active-duty personnel will be required to get vaccinated against the H1N1 flu virus, Defense Department officials announced this week.
Health care workers, deploying troops, those serving on ships and submarines, and enlistees are among those who will get the vaccination first, said Army Dr. (Lt. Col.) Wayne Hachey, director of preventive medicine for Defense Department health affairs.