Service members around the world will begin receiving vaccinations for the H1N1 swine flu virus as early as October, officials said Sept. 1.

The Defense Department has ordered 2.7 million doses, and the first shipment of about 1 million is expected to be available in early October, said Army Lt. Col. (P) Wayne Hachey, director of preventive medicine for the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, Force Health Protection and Readiness.

The remaining 1.7 million doses are expected to be available in late October, Hachey said.

“As soon as installations have the vaccine, they should be administering it,” he said. “The mantra is, the best storage depot for this vaccine is in an arm rather than on a shelf.”

All uniformed personnel must be vaccinated, Hachey said.

“When you come on active duty, you belong to us and we take care of you,” he said. “Part of taking care of you is making sure you are protected, so that includes your Kevlar and it includes your flu shot.”

Atop the priority list to receive the vaccine are deployed troops, those on ships or submarines, health care workers and those in large training venues such as basic training, Hachey said.

“The places we’re always more concerned about are those places that have a higher risk of disease transmission,” he said. “Any time you take anybody, whether they wear a uniform or not, squash them into a confined space and put them under a stressful environment, the chances of disease are going to go up.”

It won’t be known for one or two months if the vaccine will have to be administered in one or two doses, but Hachey said the Defense Department will use the same distribution system for this vaccine as it does for the seasonal flu vaccine.

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