Flu Overview 

Influenza or “flu” is a highly contagious respiratory illness that can potentially result in hospitalization or death. A yearly flu vaccination is the best way to reduce influenza illnesses, doctor visits, missed attendance at work or school, and prevent flu-related hospitalizations. The seasonal influenza vaccine is designed to protect against the influenza viruses determined by the World Health Organization (WHO) to be the most likely to spread and cause illness among people during the influenza season. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration makes the final decision about vaccine viruses included in influenza vaccines in the United States.

Communication Goals 

This toolkit provides communicators across the Military Health System (MHS) with important information about the flu vaccine from the CDC and TRICARE to share with patients and health care professionals. Our goals:

• Educate beneficiaries, civilians, contractors, volunteers, and MHS and Department of Defense (DOD) health care providers and staff on the importance of vaccines. 
• Equip MHS and DOD health care providers and staff with information and resources needed to direct the successful distribution of the flu vaccine. 

COVID-19 and Flu Vaccines

The CDC and the MHS recommend getting the flu vaccine and the COVID-19 vaccine or booster at the same time. The DHA has embarked on its annual influenza immunization drive. Immunization against influenza and COVID-19 are required for Service members and health care personnel. The COVID-19 vaccine booster is strongly recommended.

Co-administration of the COVID-19 vaccine or booster alongside the flu vaccine is safe, and the CDC recommends individuals receive both the flu vaccine and their COVID-19 booster at the same time. 

The influenza vaccine is often administered to entire units at once. Military leaders should work with installation medical personnel to ensure that Service members are able to receive their COVID-19 booster when receiving their required flu vaccine, but particularly during these unit drives. 

Pregnant People

Pregnant people are at an increased risk for severe illness and complications if they get the flu. If you’re pregnant during flu season, call your doctor to see when and how you can get the flu shot. They can tell you which vaccines the CDC recommends for pregnant people and how to protect you and your baby during flu season.

Mandatory Populations

The annual flu shot is mandatory for civilian health care personnel who provide direct patient care and is highly recommended for all other staff who work in military hospitals and clinics. Active-Duty Service Members are required to get the flu vaccine each year. All service members, regardless of status, should follow guidance from their leadership chain. If you don’t have access to a military hospital or clinic, you can get the flu shot from a participating retail network pharmacy or your primary care manager. 

Importance of Flu Vaccination

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is straining health care resources, making the flu vaccine more important than ever. A surge in flu cases is certain to impact health care systems and levels of care across the enterprise.

The flu vaccine can reduce the significant burden already placed on the health care system due to the pandemic and further conserve critical medical resources.

Getting vaccinated helps protect health care workers from getting sick with the flu.  Vaccinated health care professionals tend to miss fewer days of work. And vaccination is associated with enhanced patient safety, better quality of care, and improved outcomes. 

Active-Duty Service Members are required to get the flu vaccine each year, ensuring they remain safe from potential health threats. For decades, vaccine requirements have been an important and ongoing part of active-duty service. While some may be experiencing vaccine fatigue, this year shouldn’t be any different. Now is a great time to get vaccinated.

Availability

Flu vaccines are now available at your local military hospital or clinic. There’s no shortage of flu vaccine this year and the DHA will have enough for all active duty and reserve components.

The CDC recommends everyone get the flu vaccine by the end of October. While flu season usually peaks between December and March, the vaccine will offer protection as long as the virus is circulating. 

You can also go to a TRICARE participating network pharmacy to get the flu vaccine.  

• There is no national shortage of influenza vaccine this year in the United States. The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) has met its required 2022 flu vaccine supply, and began shipping flu vaccine to DOD vaccination sites in September of this year. 
• Contact your local military hospital or clinic for information on safety precautions they are taking to protect visitors against COVID-19, and be sure to check flu vaccine availability before you plan a visit.  

• The TRICARE flu website has information on no-cost and co-pay options should you decide to go out to the retail pharmacy network for your flu vaccination.
• If you or your child receives a vaccine outside of the MTF, remember to get a record of it and share the information with your primary care manager or military clinic. This will ensure the completeness of your family's vaccination records.  

• People with flu can spread it to others mainly through droplets made when people with flu cough, sneeze, or talk. Less often, a person might get flu by touching a surface or object that has flu virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes.
• It is possible to spread the flu to others before you know you are sick, as well as while you are sick. Some people can be infected with the flu virus but have no symptoms. During this time, those people may still spread the virus to others. 

• The single best way to prevent seasonal flu is to get vaccinated each year. 
• Good health habits like avoiding people who are sick, covering your cough or sneeze, washing your hands (using alcohol-based hand sanitizer if washing is not possible), avoiding contact with your nose, eyes, or mouth, and staying home if you have flu-like symptoms also help prevent the spread of flu.  

• Seasonal influenza vaccine is recommended for everyone 6 months of age and older with rare exceptions. 
• People at high risk for influenza complications include infants, young children, pregnant women, adults age 65 and over, nursing home or long-term care facility residents, and those with underlying health conditions. 
• Vaccination remains beneficial as long as flu viruses are circulating. If you have not been vaccinated by the end of November, the vaccine still offers protection if received in December or later. 
• Flu is unpredictable, and the U.S. flu season is typically October through May.
• Seasonal flu disease usually peaks between December and March, but disease can occur as late as May.  

• While vaccine effectiveness can vary, recent studies show that flu vaccination reduces the risk of flu illness by between 40% and 60% among the overall population during seasons when most circulating flu viruses are well-matched to those used to make flu vaccines.
• Flu vaccination also can reduce the risk of flu-associated hospitalization and severe complications among those with high-risk medical conditions. 

You can now use the DHA Appointing Portal (DAP), an online scheduling tool, to book and manage your 2022 Influenza Vaccine appointment at many DOD vaccination sites.  Check to see if your location is using DAP on the flu vaccine Appointments page.

• By using the DAP self-service application, you can schedule your flu vaccine appointment and cancel your appointment, if necessary.
• For more messaging and graphics about the DAP, please visit the DHA Appointing Portal Toolkit Page.