Army, Air Guard officials prepare for flu season Published Sept. 8, 2010 By Tech. Sgt. John Orrell National Guard Bureau ARLINGTON, Va. (AFNS) -- With the flu season approaching quickly, Army and Air National Guard officials have released guidance for their 2010-2011 vaccination campaigns, and will start shipping vaccinations to the U.S. for immediate distribution. Army Maj. Gunnar D. Kiersey, a medical readiness officer with the Army Guard chief surgeon's office, said the Military Vaccine Agency is expected to start deliveries by October. Air National Guard units are scheduled to receive their doses of the flu vaccine within the next month, said Maj. James Coker, the chief of the Air Surgeon's Public Health and Prevention branch. "The delivery of vaccine is dependent on the priorities of the manufacturers and availability of approved lots, but several states are currently beginning to receive their ... influenza vaccination," he said. Each year in the U.S., about 36,000 people die from influenza or its complications, and for that reason, both the Army and Air National Guard strive for 100 percent participation in this program. "It is highly encouraged for ANG members to receive their vaccination in a timely manner to protect them from influenza during the peak months of influenza activity, which is generally December through March in the U.S.," Major Coker said. "Personnel who receive the influenza vaccination begin to develop antibodies sufficient to protect them from influenza infection within two weeks of vaccination. This protection will generally last six to nine months and sometimes longer." The biggest change to this year's vaccine is that it combines three influenza vaccines into one. "Every year, scientists select the three influenza virus strains that research feels will pose the most common threat," Major Coker said. The 2010-2011 flu vaccine will protect against H1N1, H3N2 and an influenza B virus, Major Kiersey said. The combination of these vaccines will not diminish their effectiveness. For more information on the listed influenza viruses and the vaccines being used by the Department of Defense, go to www.flu.gov.