Free Flu Shots: From now through March 31, 2017, all veterans enrolled in the Department of Veterans Affars (VA) health care system can receive free flu shots at any Walgreens or Duane Reade pharmacy. The joint outreach health initiative is designed to help serve veterans closer to where they reside. Veterans must bring their VA identification cards with them, as well as another photo ID, and complete a short four-question application, which will be used to automatically update their VA Electronic Health Records. No appointments are necessary.
Targeted Screening Program: The VA, Department of Defense (DOD) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) announced a partnership to tailor care for lung cancer patients based on the genes and proteins associated with their tumors. The Applied Proteogenomics Organizational Learning and Outcomes consortium,or APOLLO, is part of the wider national Cancer Moonshot initiative. This partnership will leverage the expertise and resources of the largest health care delivery and research systems in the country to significantly improve the efficacy of cancer treatments. The Program has the potential of saving the lives of the 8,000 veterans diagnosed with lung cancer each year in the VA health care system alone. To learn more about Apollo visit: https://medium.com/cancer-moonshot.
Service Animal Pilot Program: The VA announced last week the creation of the first program specifically for veterans suffering from mental health issues who may be eligible for a service dog. The pilot, created by the new VA Center for Compassionate Intervention, foresees being able to enroll up to 100 veterans. Individuals selected for the new program will be chosen based on their medical team’s belief that the veteran’s daily life would be improved by having a service dog. Veterans interested in the program are encouraged to talk to their health care provider or medical team. For information visit http://www.militarytimes.com/articles/va-pilot-to-cover-service-dogs-for-mental-health-conditions.
MIA Update: The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced the identification of remains belonging to six servicemen who had been missing in action since WW II and Korea. All will be buried with full military honors:
Army Sgt. James L. Campbell, 18, of Waterford, CT. Assigned to the 31st Regimental Combat team and on Nov. 27, 1950, it was attacked and forced into fighting withdrawal from their positions on the east side of the Chosin River, in North Korea.
Army Capt. Elwood J. Euart, 28, Pawtucket, RI. Assigned to Headquarters, 103rd Field Artillery Battalion, 43rd Infantry Division, aboard an Army transport ship that struck two mines near Espiritu Santo Island, New Hebrides. The ship was beached on a nearby coral reef. Hearing that men were trapped inside, he entered the sinking ship to help men escape. The ship rolled and slid off the reef. He was one of only two crewmen lost out of 5,000 troops. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross in 1943.
Navy Lt. Julian B. Jordan 37, Bremerton, WA. Assigned aboard USS Oklahoma, a battleship that was struck by several torpedo hits in Pearl Harbor, resulting in the deaths of 429 crewmen.
Marine PFC James F. Mansfield, 19, of Plymouth, MA; Marine PFC. George H. Traver, 25, of Chatham, NY; and Marine PFC Anthony Brozyna, 22, of Hartford, CT. All died on Nov. 20, 1943 on the Gilbert Islands after intense fighting at Tarawa. One thousand marines and sailors were killed and more than 2,000 wounded. The Japanese were virtually annihilated.
