Soldiers being trained to give immunizations to base civilians

[unhappycamper]

Soldiers being trained to give immunizations to base civilians
By Jimmy Norris, Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Thursday December 13, 2007

YONGSAN GARRISON, South Korea — With even more family members on the way to South Korea as part of the transformation of U.S. forces on the peninsula, the 18th Medical Command had some good news for those who will be seeking immunizations.

Thanks to a team of instructors from Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, 19 more 18th Medical Command soldiers will be qualified Friday to administer immunizations to civilians.

The instructor team was in South Korea to give a five-day immunology course to medics.

Prior to the course, the medics were qualified to give immunizations only to active-duty soldiers. The five days of training are normally part of Walter Reed’s 5½-week immunization and allergy technician course.

But the cost and loss of manpower involved in sending them on temporary duty for that training would not have been practical, said Master Sgt. Desmond Smith, 18th Medical Command spokesman.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=50931