The White Falcon - 27.10.2004, Side 1

Vol. 63 No. 43
online at www.nctskef.navy.mil
October 27, 2004
Through flu shot prioritiza-
tion and a series of preventive
medicine techniques, Keflavlk
Naval Hospital is aiming to
keep this year’s flu bug at bay
By J02 Travis D. Eisele
The nationwide influenza vaccination short-
age will affect flu shot distribution throughout
the entire Department of Defense including U.S.
Naval Hospital Keflavik, Iceland.
Flu vaccinations have been mandatory for the
total force in the past to promote military readi-
ness, protect the health of those who serve and
to prevent flu virus outbreaks. Because of the
shortage this year, some servicemembers will be
deferred from getting the vaccination to allow
more of the vaccinations
to go toward operational
personnel and high-risk
dependents.
“Navy medicine, like
all other health care
organizations, is facing
a shortage of vaccine for
the upcoming flu season,”
said Lt. Trey Hollis, a
physician with the Naval
hospital. “Because our
supply of vaccine will
be limited, vaccinations
will be given to those
individuals based upon
priority of need.”
Prioritized categories include:
• Servicemembers in a deployable sta-
tus
• All children aged 6-23 months
• All adults aged 65 years and older
• Persons aged 2-64 years old with
underlying chronic medical conditions
• All women who will be pregnant dur-
ing the influenza season
• Out-of-home caregivers and household
contacts of infants less than 6 months of age
The staff at the Naval hospital is currently
assessing who is high risk according to the
above categories and will be calling in those
people who will be receiving the vaccine begin-
ning in December.
For those who will not be able to get a flu shot
this year, the Center for Disease Control offered
the following tips:
• Avoid close contact with people who
are sick and when you are sick yourself keep
your distance from others to protect them from
becoming sick.
• If possible, stay home from work,
school and running errands when you are sick.
• Cover your mouth and nose with tissue
when coughing or sneezing.
• Washing your hands often will protect
you from germs.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or
mouth. Germs are often spread when a person
touches something that is contaminated with
germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose or
mouth.
LOC L
Local Keflavik Airmen
receives the Bronze Star
for his actions in Iraq
By J02(SW/AW) Mat Sohl
Earlier this month Staff Sgt. Kevin Kessell,
assigned to the Air Force 85^ Group 932nt*
Air Control Squadron, was awarded the
Bronze Star by 851'1 Group Commander,
Col. Phillip Gibbons.
Kessell was awarded the medal for his
actions during the early stages of Operation
Iraqi Freedom.
HERO
From Feb 4, 2003 until May 15, 2003
Kessell served as part of a six-man team
- comprised of himself, four other Airmen
and a Navy Commander - charged with
operating “battlefield universal gateway
equipment” within Iraqi territory.
The equipment the team was tasked with
operating is located within a Humvee vehi-
cle and serves as a communications gateway
between F-15, F-16 and AWACS aircraft, as
well as Coalition ground troops.
“We were highly mobile,” said Kessell
----- See Bronze Star pg. 4