Flu mist or shots available to all active duty Air Force Published Sept. 23, 2010 By Donald Pierson Public Health Flight manager HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah -- The 75th Medical Group is currently vaccinating all active duty Air Force personnel when they come through the medical facility doors. Future mass vaccination efforts will include vaccinating personnel as they medically process through Operational Readiness Exercises or Inspections. The 75th Medical Group will also send influenza vaccination teams around the base, vaccinating members who work night and swing shifts. The medical group is attempting to vaccinate a majority of the military population in a timely manner, so they can open up vaccine availability to all TriCare beneficiaries. What exactly is the flu anyway? The flu is a respiratory illness caused by the influenza virus.Sometimes the flu is confused with the common cold. While they both share many of the same symptoms, the common cold is caused by a different virus, and it tends to have milder symptoms than the flu. When the influenza virus gets into the body, it moves into the respiratory tract. Once there, it binds to the surface of cells. The virus then opens and releases its genetic information (RNA) into the cell's nucleus. The nucleus is where the cell's genetic information (DNA and RNA) is stored. The virus replicates and takes over the functions of the cell. The copies of the virus move to the cell membrane until the cell finally dies and releases them out into the body, where they go on to infect other cells. The respiratory tissues swell up and become inflamed (inflammation usually heals within a few weeks). As the virus moves through the respiratory tract and into the bloodstream, the first symptoms begin to emerge. The replication process continues for up to several days, until the body's immune system begins to fight the virus off. Flu symptoms can include any or all of the following: * Coughing * Sneezing * Fever * Body aches * Runny nose and/or congestion * Tiredness These symptoms, although uncomfortable, are generally not dangerous. But the flu also weakens the immune system, leaving it vulnerable to more serious infections. High-risk individuals in particular are susceptible to serious complications, such as: * Bacterial pneumonia * Dehydration * Sinus problems and ear infections (primarily in children) * Worsening of pre-iexisting conditions, such as asthma or diabetes Should I get the flu mist or the flu shot? The Immunization Clinic is screening all personnel using a questionnaire that assists them in determining what form of the vaccine is right for them. In a nutshell, the flu mist or live intranasal vaccine is recommended for healthy people 2 through 49 years of age, who are not pregnant and who don't have a severe egg allergy. Questions concerning future times and availability of the flu vaccine can be directed to the 75th MDG Immunization Clinic at (801) 777-5209.