THE Department of Public Health and Social Services has received a generous donation of 2,000 influenza (flu) vaccines.
DPHSS announced that the Department of Defense, which is donating more than 10,000 doses of excess flu vaccines to the Pacific region, has allocated 2,000 for Guam.
In the U.S. alone, seasonal influenza kills approximately 36,000 Americans on average each year.
DOD is making the donation through the U.S./Pacific Islands Vaccine Program.
In addition to DOD’s generous donation, United Airlines also donated air miles by transporting the vaccines to Guam and other islands in Micronesia.
DOD, according to public health, ends up with excess vaccine that is destroyed at the end of the influenza season. But in the 2006 to 2007 flu season, DOD recognized the need for flu vaccines in the CNMI and started the U.S./Pacific Islands Vaccine Program to reach out to other Pacific island nations.
“The U.S./Pacific Islands Vaccine Program is a collaborative effort between DOD, Pacific Islands Health Officers Association, U.S. Coast Guard, Pacific Island public health communities and the private sector airline industry. Without them, this important program would not be possible,” said Michelle Garcia, JTF-HD Interagency coordinator.
This year’s shipments totaling $86,000 are being delivered at no cost to islands in the Pacific region, including American Samoa through Hawaiian Airlines; Guam, Saipan and Kosrae through United Airlines; and Majuro by the U.S. Coast Guard.
The U.S. Army Medical Materiel Agency obtains the excess DOD vaccine nationwide before it is shipped to the Military Vaccine Agency and packaged by the Division of Logistics at Tripler Army Medical Center. Fort Campbell, Fort Benning, Fort Gordon, Fort Carson, Fort Bragg and the Naval Academy participated this year by donating more than 10,000 doses of influenza vaccine.
The Defense Logistics Agency also donated temperature gauges that identify if the vaccine is kept at an appropriate temperature throughout the journey. These items are valued at more than $5,000.
