FORT HOOD (Now designated Fort Cavazos), Texas – Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center will begin offering flu shots October 15.

Beneficiaries can receive their flu vaccine at their assigned medical home Monday through Friday from 9-11 a.m. and from 1-3 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

The hospital also is hosting various flu shot roundups:

October 26 from 9-11:30 a.m. at the Copeland Center

October 27 from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at CRDAMC (Retiree Health Fair)

November 7 and 8 at the CYS Roundup at the various post facilities

December 1 from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Clear Creek PX.

On average, between 5 percent and 20 percent of the U.S. population develops influenza annually, leading to more than 200,000 hospitalizations from related complications, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The influenza vaccine effectiveness (VE) can vary from year to year and among different age and risk groups. The CDC reports that in general, the highest VE is among young healthy adults and older children, stating that the flu vaccine can prevent 66 percent or more influenza infections in young children, with even higher estimates for older children.

The CDC, the World Health Organization and other medical officials continually monitor influenza viruses and outcomes and are responsible for determining the composition of the flu vaccine to combat the flu viruses that research indicates are most likely to cause illness during the upcoming season.

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