Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- Get a flu shot, cover your mouth when you cough, wash your hands often and stay home if you get sick unless you require medical care.  These are the key preventive measures during flu season.

To help with the last measure, the Naval Hospital has set up a walk-in flu clinic for all eligible TRICARE beneficiaries who have flu-like symptoms.

These symptoms include, but are not limited to, fever plus cough, cold, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue and body aches and pains.

“The flu has come early and fast this year,” said Cmdr. Michael Danforth, Family Medicine department head and walk-in flu clinic director.  “We’ve opened the clinic to get ahead of the illness and make treatment fast and easy for our beneficiaries.”

The clinic is only for the treatment of individuals who think they have the flu.  Anyone with other medical needs or who want a flu shot should contact their primary care physician.  TRICARE beneficiaries can also get the seasonal flu vaccine from any TRICARE network provider who is licensed to give the vaccine or from a participating TRICARE retail network pharmacy.  There’s no copay for the vaccination. Call your local network pharmacy to make sure it participates in the program and has the vaccine in stock.  To find a network pharmacy near you, call Express Scripts at 1-877-363-1303.  Anyone wishing to speak with a nurse about flu home care can call our advice line at (760) 725-HELP (4357), option six.

Entrance to the flu clinic is located just outside the Naval Hospital pharmacy entrance. Hours of clinic operation are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.  The flu clinic will stay open until further notice.

General information on seasonal flu can be found at http://cdc.gov/flu/ .