HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah — The U.S. and the rest of the Northern Hemisphere are bracing for a potentially severe flu season. In general, flu season in the U.S. begins in October and tapers off in May. In the Southern Hemisphere, flu season is well underway. Australia has reported seeing two and a half times more infections and considerably more deaths associated with the influenza virus than during the same time period from the previous year.

Typically, the U.S. sees influenza strains similar to those circulating in the Southern Hemisphere; however, circulating flu viruses can mutate and change throughout the year, making it easier for the virus to infect people who have not been vaccinated.

Utah’s flu season is right around the corner, and Hill AFB is offering an abundance of opportunities to get vaccinated early this year.

The 75th Medical Group Immunization Clinic will soon focus their efforts on vaccinating the active duty population. Active duty members are currently “due” for the influenza vaccine; however, members will not affect unit Individual Medical Readiness rates until Jan. 1, 2018. The Department of Defense goal is to vaccinate 90 percent of the active duty population by Dec. 15, 2017.

The flu shot will not be available to all Tricare beneficiaries at the 75th Medical Group until adequate vaccination supplies are received, but the Davis County Health Department will be on base offering no-out-of-pocket-cost influenza, Tdap, and pneumonia vaccinations to Tricare dependents and retirees, as well as federal service and contract employees. Members can bring their health insurance cards or military dependent/retiree identification to one of the 22 scheduled clinics:

Sept. 26, 8-10 a.m., building 1289, Hill conference room southwest

Sept. 28, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., building 847, large conference room

Oct. 3, 11 a.m.-noon, building 849, B-41 conference room

Oct. 4, 6:30-9:30 a.m., building 225, Joe Bailey Conference Room

Oct. 5, 9 a.m.-noon, building 1580

Oct. 6, noon-5 p.m., Commissary foyer

Oct. 10, 8-11 a.m., building 1209, conference room

Oct. 11, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., BX foyer

Oct. 12, 8:30 a.m.-noon, building 1295, conference room or break room

Oct. 17, 7-10:30 a.m., building 243, west side

Oct. 17, 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m., building 843, EMXG Conference Room

Oct. 18, 8 a.m.-3 p.m., Warrior Fitness Center foyer

Oct. 19, 7-11 a.m., building 507, Roessler Conference Room

Oct. 19, 3-5:30 p.m., CDC west lobby

Oct. 24, 8-11 a.m., building 100F

Oct. 25, 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m., building 674, break room

Oct. 26, 8-10 a.m., building 891, Reed Conference Room

Oct. 30, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., BX foyer

Oct. 31, 7:30-11 a.m., building 1515

Nov. 2, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Warrior Fitness Center foyer

Nov. 3, noon-5 p.m., Commissary foyer

Nov. 9, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., The Landing (fall expo)

Below is an alphabetical list of all the Health Insurance agencies DCHD is authorized to bill:

AARP – HMO

AARP Medicare Complete – flu and pneumonia only

Altius (Aetna POS II)

Blue Cross Blue Shield

Definity – HMO

Deseret Mutual Benefits (DMBA)

Deseret Choice

Deseret Alliance – HMO

Educators Mutual

GEHA

Health Choice Utah – Medicaid

Humana – PPO

Humana X – only for commercial mailhandlers

Med Advantage – HMO

Medicare

RailRoad Medicare

Medicaid

Molina – Medicaid and Medicare only

PEHP

Selecthealth, Selectmed, Selectvalue

Sterling – HMO

Tricare

UMR

United Health

University Health HealthyU – Medicaid Only

UPREHS – HMO

For more information about the scheduled flu clinics offered by the Davis County Health Department, please contact Douglas Pierson, Public Health Flight Manager, at 801-586-9768.