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HomeNewsFort Campbell's Blanchfield Army Community Hospital (BACH) prepares to provide Flu Vaccine,...

Fort Campbell’s Blanchfield Army Community Hospital (BACH) prepares to provide Flu Vaccine, mid-October

Blanchfield Army Hospital - BACH - Fort Campbell KYFort Campbell, KY – Blanchfield Army Community Hospital’s (BACH) preventive medicine team expects Fort Campbell to receive this year’s influenza vaccine in mid-to-late October. Once the vaccine arrives, preventive medicine staff members will offer the vaccine in multiple venues.

“The majority of this year’s shipment of influenza vaccine is expected to arrive in mid-to-late October. After the vaccine arrives, we expect to make it available to patients. Every year the shipment arrival times vary, but we still anticipate being able to offer the vaccine before flu season picks up this year,” said BACH Chief of Preventive Medicine Capt. Samuel Peik.

Active duty Soldiers preparing to deploy will receive the first vaccines that arrive. As soon as the vaccine becomes available for patients, BACH will make announcements to the community through social media, the BACH website, local media outlets and Army Secure Messaging through Relay Health.

Once announced, 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.

For the first time in Fort Campbell history, BACH’s preventive medicine team also plans to offer the influenza vaccine to all TRICARE beneficiaries with a military ID card during two public events at the Post Exchange and the Commissary.

The influenza vaccine will be offered one day at each location during late-October. BACH will announce details about both events in the coming weeks. 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.

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