Flu season; Keesler medical officials expect supply of vaccine for this year to be plentiful Published Oct. 16, 2007 81st Medical Group Public Affairs KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- Delivery of this year's influenza vaccine to Keesler Medical Center is pending. Once it arrives and a schedule is developed, officials intend to inform Tricare military health care-eligible members and families through the Keesler News and the base's public Web site. In the past few years, a vaccine shortage required medical officials to prioritize vaccinations for "high risk" patients. However, no vaccine shortage is anticipated for the 2007-08 season. To ensure effective, targeted vaccination coverage, officials use a phased strategy that begins with active-duty military -- an integral part of force health protection, medical readiness and deployability -- and "high risk" enrolled beneficiaries in these categories: Age 65-and-older with other serious health problems. Residents of long-term care facilities. Age 2-to-64 with other serious health problems. Age 65-and-older without other serious health problems Children 6-to-23 months and pregnant women. Health care personnel with direct patient contact. Household contacts and out-of-home caregivers of children less than 6 months old. The 81st Medical Group works with individual units to schedule immunizations for military personnel. Simultaneously, "high-risk" enrolled beneficiaries are contacted to schedule immunization appointments. Once the first phase for active-duty and "high-risk" enrollees is completed, vaccine appointments are made available and scheduled for other Department of Defense-eligible members and families.