87th Medical Group takes first place in flu vaccinations Published Oct. 21, 2009 By Pascual Flores Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, NJ -- When it comes to passing out flu vaccine, the 87th Medical Group is tough to beat. The 87th MDG is currently No. 1 in Air Mobility Command and eighth in the Air Force for distributing seasonal influenza vaccinations. Members of the 87th MDG immunized 5,760 active-duty personnel since starting distribution of the seasonal influenza vaccine Aug. 27. The medical group held an all-day shot line, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sept. 15 for all active-duty personnel. "This process saved many man hours. Instead of going from squadron to squadron, one central location was utilized to provide the immunizations," said Maj. Dana Gilligan, Laboratory Flight commander. 1,364 Airmen were vaccinated in 15 hours. Seasonal influenza epidemics occur annually in the United States. Estimates of influenza-related events include 95-million infections, 25-million physician visits, 200,000 hospitalizations and 36,000 deaths annually in the United States, according to the Air Force 2009 to 2010 annual influenza immunization program guidance. The Immunizations Clinic is now open from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The clinic opens at 10:30 a.m. the first Friday of every month due to readiness training. All influenza vaccinations are given on a walk-in basis. For more information, call the Immunizations Clinic at (609) 754-9209. Additionally, updated information on H1N1 and the seasonal flu can be found by visiting the Joint Base MDL Web site at www.jointbasemdl.af.mil/fluupdates