DoD civilian employees have been added to the list of those now authorized to receive a free influenza vaccination at the Naval Hospital Bremerton and its Branch Medical Clinics at Bangor and Naval Station Everett.

The vaccines are also available for military personnel, retirees and family members.

The vaccine is being offered via injection and flumist nasal spray, said Lt. Mary Graves, Naval Hospital Bremerton Preventive Medicine Department Head.

Graves said that like the private sector, more flu vaccine has become available for Navy Medical Treatment facilities.

Vaccines are available at the Naval Hospital Bremerton Immunization Clinic Monday - Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.  The Immunization Clinic is located on the second floor of the new Family Practice wing.

The Bangor Clinic is offering vaccines in the clinic’s immunizations department Monday - Friday from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. and from 12:30 to 4 p.m.

The Everett Branch Medical Clinic is offering immunizations Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 7:45 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursdays from 7:45 a.m. to noon and 3 to 6 p.m., and Saturday mornings from 7:45 to 10 a.m.

Graves said that all military, family members and DoD civilian employees are encouraged to take the influenza vaccine. She stressed, however, the added importance of the vaccine being taken by patients considered high risk for suffering severely from the effects of the flu.  Those patients include children 6-24 months old, those over 65, and persons with chronic underlying conditions such as diabetes, asthma and heart disease.

More information is available by calling the Naval Hospital Bremerton Preventive Medicine Department at (360) 476-9389.