The additional shipment of pediatric flu vaccine received by Fort Hood’s Darnall Army Community Hospital is available to all healthy children.

Previous vaccinations were restricted to children in high-risk categories.

Lt. Col. Arthur Baker, chief of preventative medicine at Darnall, said the vaccine is being offered not only to protect children from the flu, but also to reduce the chances the flu will spread through the Fort Hood community.

"Children are known to influence the way the flu virus is transmitted and the onset of epidemics,” he said.

“They are also more likely to be hospitalized for flu-related illness," he said.

"My concern is that families going away for the holidays may be exposed to the virus and bring it back with them," Baker said.

"I strongly recommend that children 18 years old and younger receive the flu vaccine before the holidays."

The vaccine is available to children ages five to 18 at Darnall’s family clinics on a walk-in basis during regular hours.

Children four and younger must have an appointment.

Patients enrolled in Darnall's Pediatric Clinic must make an immunization appointment through the Patient Appointment Service,
at 288-8888.

Click Here For Health and Human Services Web Site

Click Here For Information About the Flu Vaaccine from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Click Here For Immunization Information from the Texas Department of Health