MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- U.S. Navy Sailors with the Naval Family Branch Health Clinic (BHC) conducted a 72-hour mass immunization during Exercise Active Shield to vaccinate all active-duty service members aboard Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Iwakuni, Japan, Oct. 28, 2020.
During the first 48 hours of immunizations, more than 90 percent of on-base, active-duty service members received their influenza vaccine.
U.S. Navy Lt. Jg. Maria Moncayo, the public health emergency officer for MCAS Iwakuni, coordinated with the Emergency Operations Center to distribute the influenza vaccination to U.S. service members while maintaining COVID safety procedures.
Moncayo said safety procedures did not change during Exercise Active Shield, especially during the distribution of the influenza vaccine.
“We make people wear their masks properly, over the nose and under the chin, and each table to get your shot is spaced for social distancing,” said Moncayo. “We’re trying to provide as much space as possible for people.”
“This year its very important for people to receive the flu vaccine because of the dangers of COVID,” said Moncayo. “If someone happened to get both at the same time it would be dangerous that is why we try everything we can do to prevent that.”
Active Shield is an annual bilateral exercise partnering U.S. and Japanese forces for the protection and defense of MCAS Iwakuni and other assets in the region in order to sustain military operations in support of the U.S.-Japan Alliance.