HILL AIR FORCE BASE -- Medical officials at Hill Air Force Base have received the H1N1 vaccine and are now on a mission to get as many airmen vaccinated as possible.
The base's 75th Medical Group received a shipment of the H1N1 vaccine last week and will be distributing it across the base until their supply has gone dry.
"Our goal is to use up every last bit of our supply," said Dan Smith, chief of the 75th Aerospace Medicine Squadron. "We want to vaccinate as many people as we possibly can."
Smith said the vaccine is the best way for individuals to avoid swine flu, and while it's useful for everyone, it's doubly important for airmen because of their close quarters.
"Anyone who can get the vaccine should get it, but for people that are living and working together in tight quarters, it's absolutely vital," he said.
Smith said the vaccine is available to all active duty members and their dependents, not just those at high risk. Airmen interested in vaccinations should contact the 75th Medical Group Immunization Clinic at (801) 777-5209.
Col. Don Hickman, commander of the 75th Medical Group, said the base received its H1N1 vaccine through a surplus supply from Davis County Health Department.
"We've got a great relationship with Davis County and because of that, we can open some things up for our folks here on base," he said.
Hickman said the 75th MDG still has a good supply of seasonal influenza vaccine as well.
Davis County Health Department held an H1N1 vaccination clinic Tuesday at the Davis Conference Center and will have two more clinics next week.
The vaccinations are free, and after being in short supply earlier this year, are now widely available.
"The advance tickets are not needed anymore, and we're accepting walk-ins," said Bob Ballew, spokesman for Davis County Health Department. Next week's clinic will be from noon to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Davis Conference Center, 800 W. Heritage Park Blvd., Layton, and from noon to 7 p.m. Jan. 7 at Bountiful Regional Center, 835 N. 400 East, North Salt Lake.
Ballew said the seasonal flu vaccine, which costs $20, is again available for the general public at Davis County Health Department's immunization clinics in Clearfield and Woods Cross.
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