Alamo Wing prepares for flu season Published Oct. 5, 2014 By Tech. Sgt. Carlos J. Trevino 433 AW Public Affairs JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND -- Today's news is full of situations concerning illnesses around the world. With that in mind, one virus that can be fought with good hygiene, and preventable medicine is the flu. Airmen of the 433rd Airlift Wing received their annual flu shots during the recent October Unit Training Assembly. "We need to be immunized yearly, because the vaccine only last 12 months," said Capt. Elvira Castillo, a nurse with the 433 Aerospace Medicine Squadron. "You might still get the flu, but what we offer our Wingmen, covers most of the strains out there," said Castillo. "Receiving the vaccination is vital to our Airmen performing our mission of being combat ready," said Col. Bill Whittenberger, Jr., 433rd Airlift Wing commander. "We have global airlift, medical and support missions to assit with and we must be vigliant in being prepared to answer the call when it comes to go. This is part of that process of being ready." While the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta does not know exactly how many people die from seasonal flu each year according to their website, some dealths can be prevented through vaccines and hygiene. During the mandatory vaccine call, medics also advised members about covering their mouths when they coughed, how to protect themselves from other members who don't get immunized. They also distributed complimentary hand sanitizer sample bottles after the vaccinations. "This is a interventional campaign for our members," Castillo said.