Fort Campbell’s Blanchfield Army Community Hospital prepares to provide flu vaccine, late September

Fort Campbell, KY – Blanchfield Army Community Hospital’s (BACH) patient care teams expect Fort Campbell to begin providing the flu vaccine to families within the Patient-Centered Medical Homes September 29th, Preventive medicine staff members will offer the vaccine in multiple venues again this year.

“BACH typically begins providing the flu vaccine in October where beneficiaries receiving the vaccine will be provided the most protection over the traditional flu season in this region which runs between October and March,” said BACH Chief of Preventive Medicine Maj. Samuel Peik.

Active duty Soldiers preparing to deploy are receiving the first vaccines. Patients enrolled to BACH medical homes, including Byrd Soldier and Family Medical Home, LaPointe Soldier Medical Home and Screaming Eagle Medical Home, will be able to receive the vaccine during scheduled appointments.

Patients assigned to BACH may also receive the vaccine without an appointment during walk-in hours within their assigned medical home.

BACH’s preventive medicine team also plans to offer the influenza vaccine to all TRICARE beneficiaries with a military ID card during six public events at the Post Exchange, the Commissary and the Town Center Pharmacy.

The influenza vaccine will be offered two days at each location during late-October:

• Post Exchange: 9:00am to 4:00pm on Wednesday, October 15th and Wednesday, October 29th
• Commissary: 9:00am to 4:00pm  on Friday, October 17 and Friday, October 31st
• Town Center Pharmacy: 8:00am to 4:00pm Wednesday, October 22nd and Friday, October 24th

In addition, BACH’s Preventive Medicine team will work in conjunction with staff throughout Fort Campbell Schools to offer the vaccine to students during the school day.

Patients Assigned to Providers Outside of BACH

Patients assigned to a network primary care provider (off post) should ask to receive the flu vaccine from their assigned primary care manager (PCM). If their assigned healthcare provider does not offer the flu vaccine as a TRICARE-covered benefit, patients may receive the influenza vaccine with no copayment at participating retail network pharmacies. To find a participating pharmacy, visit www.express-scripts.com/TRICARE/pharmacy or call 1.877.363.1303.

As a standard safety precaution, people can also avoid getting or spreading the flu virus by washing their hands regularly and covering their cough or sneeze with a tissue or their sleeve, instead of into their hands.