Santa Clara University

Cowell Student Health Center received its first shipment of H1N1 flu vaccine earlier this week. The amount of vaccine received was limited, but we anticipate receiving more soon. A vaccination clinic was held yesterday in Benson Center for students; approximately 300 H1N1 flu shots were administered. We will schedule another vaccination clinic when we receive our next shipment, and will notify students by email when this occurs.

In the meantime, Cowell Student Health Center has a limited amount of H1N1 Vaccine left from yesterday's clinic. It is available for students meeting the following criteria: 

• Students through 24 years of age.
• Students 25 years through 64 years of age with an underlying medical condition or weakened immune system which puts them at risk for complications from the flu
• Pregnant women
• People who live with or care for infants younger than 6 months of age
• Health care and emergency medical personnel

Due to limited clinic staffing, we will be giving the vaccine by appointment only to ensure the process is orderly. If you are interested in receiving the vaccine, call 408-554-4501 to schedule an appointment.

If you are not a student (and you meet one of the above criteria) and are interested in receiving the H1N1 vaccine please visit the Santa Clara Public Health Department website for information regarding clinics being held in the local area. www.sccgov.org/portal/site/phd/

Cowell Student Health Center continues to see a fair number of students presenting with mild to moderate flu-like symptoms. The Health Center has advised close to 100 students to self isolate since September 21, 2009.  Our students have on average isolated for 2 to 3 days with mild to moderate flu symptoms.  Students have recovered well and have had no serious complications.

Cowell Student Health Center has registered with the state to provide the H1N1 vaccine.  The Santa Clara Public Health Department notified the community it will receive 8,800 doses this week.  Since this initial vaccine shipment is smaller than planned, our local Health Department has determined pediatric and high-risk pregnant patients will get the vaccine first. We therefore do not anticipate receiving any H1N1 vaccine with this shipment.  The Health Department is unable to let us know if or when we may receive vaccine due to continued delays in vaccine production.  If you have an underlying medical condition which puts you at high-risk for complications related to the flu, we suggest you contact your primary care physician regarding H1N1 vaccine availability.  

The Center for Disease Control continues to stress the importance of everyday preventive actions: covering your cough/sneeze, frequent hand washing, and staying home when sick and getting vaccinated.

 

Cowell Student Health Center continues to see a fair number of students presenting with mild to moderate flu like symptoms.  Several students have been advised to isolate themselves from others until they remain fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medications.  The students we have evaluated have remained isolated for approximately 2 to 3 days and have recovered well and resumed full activities.

Please continue to follow the general measures to protect yourself and others by following these simple healthy habits: wash your hands often for at least 20 seconds with soap and water, cover your cough or sneeze, avoid touching your mouth/nose/eyes as this is a primary means of transmitting infection, don’t share personal items, stay home or in your room if you have a fever 100° F or above and flu-like symptoms. 

Cowell Student Health Center continues to monitor the local H1N1 flu situation in conjunction with the Santa Clara County Public Health Department.  This month we have seen four students with fever and mild flu like symptoms and recommended they isolate themselves.  One has recovered fully and returned to normal activities.  The other three students just began self-isolation this week.

As recommended by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Cowell Student Health Center will advise patients with fever above 100° F and flu like symptoms to self-isolate until they are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications. The university has a limited number of rooms designated for self-isolation to be used by on-campus students with roommates. Because of the limited number of isolation rooms, we encourage students with local support, such as family or friends, to stay off campus, if able. We recommend students and their families to start planning ahead for this possibility.

This news may cause some to feel anxious about the health and welfare of members of the campus community. Be assured that the university is strictly following the CDC guidelines and is staying in close contact with the County Health Department.

Everyone is urged to continue to follow the preventative measures recommended by the CDC to protect yourself and others from the spread of the disease.

Cowell Student Health Center is working closely with the Santa Clara Public Health Department to monitor flu conditions and make decisions about the best steps to take concerning the students, faculty and staff of Santa Clara University. We will keep you updated with new information as it becomes available to us.  Santa Clara University is prepared to respond to this evolving situation within the framework of the university emergency plan.

We expect to see more cases of H1N1 this fall.  Currently, the H1N1 virus appears to be no more virulent or severe than the typical seasonal flu.  However, this particular strain does seem to occur more frequently in children and young adults.  Experts advise we may see more people becoming infected with H1N1 flu due to the lack of immunity.

Cowell Student Health Center and the Santa Clara University emergency response team will monitor the campus and local situation, in consult with the Santa Clara Public Health Department, and make recommendations based on flu activity locally.

In the meantime, here are a few things you can do to help:

•    Practice good hand hygiene by washing your hands with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing. Alcohol-based hand cleaners also are effective.

•    Practice respiratory etiquette by covering 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; germs are spread this way.

•    Know the signs and symptoms of the flu. A fever is a temperature taken with a thermometer that is equal to or greater than 100 degrees Fahrenheit or 38 degrees Celsius. Look for possible signs of fever: if the person feels very warm, has a flushed appearance, or is sweating or shivering.

•    Stay home if you have flu or flu-like illness for at least 24 hours after you no longer have a fever (100 degrees Fahrenheit or 38 degrees Celsius) or signs of a fever (have chills, feel very warm, have a flushed appearance, or are sweating). This should be determined without the use of fever-reducing medications (any medicine that contains ibuprofen or acetaminophen).  Don’t go to class or work. See H1N1 Influenza Handout for self care directions.

•    Check with your health care provider if you are at high-risk for complication of the flu.  Most individuals with H1N1 flu will not need to seek medical care.  If you are pregnant or have a chronic medical condition such as diabetes, cancer, asthma, heart or lung problems, or a weakened immune system, your health care provider may prescribe antiviral medication.

•    Talk with your health care providers about whether you should be vaccinated for seasonal flu. Also, if you are at higher risk for flu complications from 2009 H1N1 flu, you should consider getting the H1N1 vaccine when it becomes available. When the vaccine is first available the following key populations will be prioritized:  pregnant women, people who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age, health care and emergency medical service personnel, persons between the ages of 6 months through 24 years of age, and people from ages 25 through 64 with chronic health disorders or compromised immune systems. For more detailed information about priority groups for vaccination, visit www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/acip.htm.

Please continue to refer to the resources below if you would like more detailed information:

o    Santa Clara Public Health Department

o    Center for Disease Control

Thank you for your efforts to keep the Santa Clara University community healthy!