Flu Season: Are You Vaccinated?

Fort Bragg is prepared to minimize the number of patients this year being admitted with the flu by getting the word out early for vaccine dates and locations.

Children need to be vaccinated as well but remind them, it's not a shot - they get the nasal spray, called FluMist.

The FDA has approved FluMist for healthy people ages 2-49 years who are not pregnant. Adults receive one dose of the vaccine per year. Children from the age of 2 to 9 years old who are getting their first influenza vaccine will need a second dose four weeks later. The first dose does not trigger enough antibodies to prevent the flu. Two doses will do the job and in subsequent years they will only need one dose.

Here's where to get your shots on Fort Bragg: Clark Health Clinic, Joel Health and Dental Clinic, Pope Health Clinic, Robinson Health Clinic, Womack Family Medicine Residency Clinic, Fayetteville Medical Home, Hope Mills Medical Home and the Pediatrics Clinics are giving the flu vaccine to Tricare Prime beneficiaries. Prime patients enrolled in the network or Tricare Standard patients younger than 18 can receive the immunization at the primary care sites. Prime patients or Tricare Standard patients 18 and older can receive the vaccine in the allergy-immunization section in Womack Army Medical Center.

Outside of Fort Bragg many local pharmacies are charging a nominal fee for the vaccine.