Flu Information

H1N1 (formerly Swine) Flu Update

16 November 2009

H1N1 "Flu Mist" vaccinations (nasal spray vaccine) for students and employees are now available at the Student Health Center.

You must be healthy, not pregnant and under age 50 to receive this vaccine.

You can read more about who should get this vaccine on its vaccine information sheet (VIS).

The Student Health Center, located in the rear of Hamlin-Powers residence halls, is open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

There is no charge for this vaccination.

In order to save time, please go to  print out and fill in both an H1N1 consent form and an NYIIS consent form (at the right), and bring both with you to the Health Center.

Please contact the Student Health Center at 315-268-6633, if you have any questions.

4 November 2009

Check out our updated chart on the differences between the cold and the flu.

3 November 2009

There are no more H1N1 "Flu Mist" vaccinations available at the Student Health Center.

We will notify you via e-mail when a new supply of H1N1 or seasonal flu vaccinations is available again.

Please contact the Student Health Center at 315-268-6633, if you have any questions.

2 November 2009

A limited number of H1N1 "Flu Mist" vaccinations (nasal spray vaccine) for students and employees only are now available at the Student Health Center.

You must be healthy, not pregnant and under age 50 to receive this vaccine.

You can read more about who should get this vaccine at http://www.clarkson.edu/flu/documents/vis-laiv-h1n.pdf .

The Student Health Center, located in the rear of Hamlin-Powers residence halls, is open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

There is no charge for this vaccination.

In order to save time, please print out and fill in both an H1N1 consent form and an NYIIS consent form (at the right), and bring both with you to the Health Center.

Please contact the Student Health Center at 315-268-6633, if you have any questions.

26 October 2009

Many students with flu-like symptoms are being treated at the Student Health Center.

Students who have the symptoms below should contact the Student Health Center immediately at 315-268-6633, and DO NOT TO GO TO CLASS or leave your room or apartment.

Employees with the symptoms below should stay home and should not come to work until their temperature has been below 100 degrees Fahrenheit for at least 24 hours.

The Health Center is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (They are also open from noon to 1 p.m.)

Symptoms of the flu include fever (flushing and chills), headache, extreme tiredness, dry cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose and muscle aches.

You should seek emergency care if you have difficulty breathing, chest pain, purple or blue discoloration of the lips, vomiting and inability to keep liquids down, or signs of dehydration, such as dizziness when standing and absence of urination.

Students who are in need of emergency medical care should call Campus Safety & Security (268-6666) for a ride to the emergency room at Canton-Potsdam Hospital or call 911.

Everyone should continue to practice good hand hygiene by washing your hands with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers also are effective.

Also, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your elbow or shoulder, not into your hands. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.

Approximately 400 students, faculty and staff were vaccinated last week for H1N1. Additional H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccination clinics will be scheduled as supplies are received.

19 October 2009

H1N1 (formerly swine flu) vaccinations for students and employees begin this week on campus.

If you are a member of a high risk group, you should call the Student Health Center now at 315-268-6633 and make an appointment for an immediate H1N1 vaccination at the health center.

High risk individuals include pregnant women; those with asthma, diabetes, heart disease, arthritis or lupus, cancer, or HIV/AIDS; health care workers/police/public transportation; and others.

For all other students and employees, an H1N1 flu vaccination clinic will be held in the Cheel Campus Center's Kodak Lounge held this Thursday, October 22, from 9 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. (or until the vaccine is gone). No appointment is needed.

In order to save time during the clinic, please print out and fill in both an H1N1 consent form and an NYIIS consent form (see forms to right), and bring both with you to the clinic.

You can also see the Vaccine Information Statement (VIS) for each vaccine at the right.

Additional H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccination clinics will be scheduled in the near future as supplies are received.

Please contact the Student Health Center at 315-268-6633, if you have any questions.

30 September 2009

Seasonal flu shots for all students who are 18 years old or younger will be available at the Student Health Center starting this Friday, October 2, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

No appointment is needed.

The cost is $10 cash, check, or student account (ID number needed).

These lower-cost vaccinations have been provided by New York State for people in this age group.

Another seasonal flu clinic for all students will be scheduled soon.

This shot is for the seasonal flu. Information on the H1N1 vaccination will be provided in October, as it becomes available.

If you have any questions, please contact the Health Center at 315-268-6633.

11 September 2009

The Student Health Center has scheduled the first seasonal flu shot clinic for all students, faculty, and staff Wednesday, September 16, from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Cheel Campus Center's Kodak Lounge.

This will be a walk-in clinic. No appointment is needed. The cost is $20 cash, check, or student account (ID number needed).

Another seasonal flu clinic will also be scheduled soon.

This shot is for the seasonal flu. Information on the H1N1 vaccination will be provided later in the semester, as it becomes available. If you have any questions, please contact the Health Center at 315-268-6633.

10 September 2009

Students with flu-like symptoms are to contact the Student Health Center immediately at 315-268-6633, and not go to class or leave their rooms or apartments.

Symptoms of the flu include fever (flushing and chills), headache, extreme tiredness, dry cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose and muscle aches.

The Health Center is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (They are also now open from noon to 1 p.m.)

If your symptoms occur after-hours or over the weekend, isolate yourself in your room and make an appointment with the Health Center when they open. Ask your roommate or RA to bring your meals to you.

If you are in need of emergency medical care, please call Campus Safety & Security (268-6666) for a ride to the emergency room at Canton-Potsdam Hospital or call 911.

You should seek emergency care if you have difficulty breathing, chest pain, purple or blue discoloration of the lips, vomiting and inability to keep liquids down, or signs of dehydration, such as dizziness when standing and absence of urination.

Please be aware that in accordance with Centers for Disease Control national guidelines, patients with flu-like symptoms are no longer being tested for H1N1 (Swine) flu, but are being treated as they would be with any flu -- rest, plenty of fluids, Tylenol or ibuprofen, etc.

4 September 2009

See video of the presentation on "Infection Control and the Flu" by Clarkson University Student Health Center Director Susan Knowles, NP, and Environmental Health & Safety Manager Elayna Mellas. See the PowerPoint presentation only.


1 September 2009

Updated information on the H1N1 Flu has been added to this Web site. To access information for students and parents, faculty, and all employees, please click on the buttons to the left.

14 August 2009

CDC (Center of Disease Control) on August 5, 2009, changed its recommendation relating to the amount of time people with influenza like illness should stay away from others. New guidance indicates that people with influenza like illness should stay home of at least 24 hours after their fever is gone (without the use of fever reducing medicine). A fever is defined as having a temperature of 100 Fahrenheit or 37.8 Celsius or greater. (Previous recommendations were to stay home for 7 days after illness onset or until 24 hours after the resolution of symptoms, whichever was longer.)

H1N1 vaccination has not been released as of yet, it could be as early as mid October. This is assumed to be a two-step process in which the second dose would be 21 to 28 days after the first. We will be registering you with the state of New York just in case you will not be here in 21-28 days after the first vaccine, to be eligible to receive in the county you live. The vaccination clinics will be advertised as soon as the vaccination is in and a site has been determined.

CDC’s Prevention Advisory Committee on July 29 developed recommendations on who should receive the 2009 H1N1 vaccine. The committee recommended that vaccination efforts initially focus on five target groups: vaccination for pregnant women, people who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age, healthcare and emergency medical services personnel, persons between the ages of 6 months through 24 years, and people ages 25 through 64 years who are at higher risk because of chronic health disorders or compromised immune systems.

Once the demand for vaccine for the prioritized groups has been met at the local level, programs and providers should begin vaccinating everyone from the ages of 25-64 years. Current studies indicate that the risk for infection among person age 65 or older is less than the risk for younger age groups.

The Health Department of New York instructed us that we may also administer the vaccine to our staff and faculty due to the service we provide here at Clarkson University.

The best way to prevent any infectious disease is through proper handwashing, so assist us at Clarkson University by practicing healthy habits.

For further information in regards to H1N1 see additional Web sites as listed on this page.

Students:  If you feel ill with a fever of 100 degrees or higher and have either a cough or sore throat, report to Student Health Center, where staff follows New York State Health Department guidelines for diagnosis and treatment. 

Employees: If you have similar symptoms, please consult your health care provider for diagnosis and treatment.

In your everyday campus and personal lives, please use common sense, caution, and consideration to contain the spread of any contagious illness. 

• There are everyday actions people can take to stay healthy.
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.  You’ll find such hands cleaners in Purell dispensers throughout campus, and more will be installed today and tomorrow.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
• Use your own pens to sign credit card receipts.
• Think carefully about any non-essential travel.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
• Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people.  The virus also lives on inanimate objects, so wash your hands frequently after touching door handles, railings, keyboards, mouses, phones, water faucets, toilet door handles or other public objects.
• If you get sick, CDC recommends that employees stay home from work limit contact with others to keep from infecting them. Students who feel ill should contact Student Health Center immediately so we can offer proper diagnosis and assist with treatment.
  
  As circumstances change, we will keep you updated with new information.
  
  If you have questions, do not hesitate to call the Student Health Center 315-268-6633 or Campus Safety & Security at 315-268-6666.