Moore College of Art and Design

TO:  Members of the Moore Community
FROM:  Diane Azuma, Director of Health Services
RE:  H1N1 FLU VACCINATIONS AVAILABLE
DATE:  December 11, 2009

In order to help limit the spread of H1N1 virus, we are asking that all members of our community observe the following guidelines:

1.      Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after use.

2.      Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.  

3.      Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth, which spreads germs.

4.      Try to avoid close contact with those who are ill.

5.      If you are sick with a flu-like illness, stay home/out of class until you are feverless for 24 hours without taking any fever-reducing medications.  

6.      Ill persons should keep away from other individuals as much as possible to prevent infecting others and spreading the virus further.

7.      If you are sick and sharing a common living space with others, wear a facemask, if available and tolerable, to help prevent spreading the virus.

For students, we recommend the following:

1.      Purchase flu prevention supplies such as alcohol-based hand sanitizers, tissues, disinfectants, and disposable wipes. Frequently clean high touch surfaces such as desks, door knobs, keyboards, and counters.

2.      If you experience flu-like symptoms (headache, cough, high fever, body aches, etc.), contact the Heath Services Office at 215-965-4032 and speak with the Director, Ms Diane Azuma.  She will assist you in getting care. 

3.      It is important that any person with flu-like symptoms self-isolate:

• If you are a commuter, stay home until you are free of symptoms and feverless without fever-reducing medication for at least 24 hours.
• If you are a resident and live nearby, you should leave campus to stay with family until you recover—free of symptoms and feverless as noted above. If you do leave campus, please inform the Health Services Office. 
• If you are a resident and live at considerable distance, speak with your family about any possibility of moving off campus, should you get ill.
• If you are a resident and decide to stay in the halls, you should stay in your room, limiting contact with others as much as possible.  Once you have informed Ms. Azuma that you are ill, she will work other personnel in Student Services to provide support, including arranging for meals to be brought to you in your room. 

4.      If your roommate is ill, follow the guidelines above that help limit the spread of the virus.  If you are experiencing stress because your roommate is ill, speak with your RA, your RD or with the Associate Dean for Residence Life and Housing, Ms. Ruth Robbins.

5.      In all cases, if you will be missing class because of the flu, e-mail your faculty to let them know.

The College expects to participate in a voluntary vaccination program for students sometime later in the fall semester.  In keeping with CDC and Philadelphia Department of Public Health guidelines, those with priority for vaccinations are people under the age of 24.  This means that this program will be primarily for students.  An e-mail will go out to the community when we have further details about vaccination, and information will also be posted on the web-site.

There are others on the CDC and PDPH’s priority lists for vaccination:

• pregnant women
• those aged 25-64 years with health conditions [cardiac disease, pulmonary disease such as asthma, immune compromise, metabolic disorders (diabetes), renal disease and hepatic disease]
• people whose household contacts include children younger than 6 months of age and
• health care workers with direct patient care

For the H1N1 virus, Health Services will only be vaccinating students up to 24 who are healthy.  Others on the priority list above need to contact their private physicians to see whether they should be vaccinated.  The College will, however, partner with the Academy of Natural Sciences again this year to offer all members of the College community the general influenza vaccinations we have offered in the past.

Those seeking additional information about the H1N1 virus can go to one of the following links: www.flu.gov; www.cdc.gov and follow the links to H1N1; or www.phila.gov/health/H1N1

**The Health Department is urging all women who are pregnant to see their health care provider to be vaccinated as soon as possible. Ob/Gyn offices have vaccine now. If you do not have a doctor's office for prenatal care, please see me for assistance in locating a provider. Pregnant women are much more at risk for severe illness from this influenza virus.

For those students still interested in the seasonal flu vaccination, please see me to arrange an appointment.

H1N1 flu vaccinations from the Philadelphia Department of Public Health will be available to Moore students starting Thursday 11/19/09  10 am- 2:00 pm in Student Health Services. You must be feeling well, with no fever to receive the vaccination. Please make sure you bring your student ID. There is no charge for this vaccination.

All students in the following groups defined by the Centers for Disease Control are encouraged to be vaccinated:

• Students 24 years of age and younger
• Students at higher risk for the 2009 H1N1 influenza because of chronic health issues ( such as asthma) or compromised immune systems.
• Students who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age.
• Pregnant students ** we strongly encourage  you to contact your physician for this vaccine**
• Healthcare and emergency medical services personnel.

We have received only a limited number of doses at this time. We expect to receive further doses as the season continues.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at Student Health Services.

Updated Information as of 12/11/09
I have heard from several members of our Moore community that they have been unable to obtain the H1N1 vaccination at their private physicians offices. After consulting with the Philadelphia Department of Public Health (PDPH), I would be able to make our vaccination stock available to all staff and faculty who qualify according to the CDC’s high priority list.
This CDC priority list is as follows :
-People who live with or care for infants younger than 6 months of age.
-Anyone 6 months through  24 years of age.
-Anyone 25 through 64 years of age with certain chronic medical conditions ( such as asthma, heart and lung disease) or a weakened immune system.
-Pregnant women *(I ask you please contact your physician)
-Health care and emergency medical personnel.

This vaccination will be provided free of charge and will be available on a first come basis.

The Health Services office is open Monday- Friday from 9am-3pm  Stahl Hall 1Floor.
Please note the office will be closed during the winter break from 12/19/09- 1/15/10.

I will possibly receive more vaccine supply in January 2010, as it becomes available from the PDPH. The PDPH is expected to remove the priority list restriction city wide as more vaccine arrives from production and all the persons on the priority list have been satisfactorily vaccinated. At such time it is expected that they will make it available to all who wish to become vaccinated.

If you are feeling ill, please contact the Student Health Services.
Diane Azuma, RN
Student Health Services

215-965-4032

Updated Information as of 1/15/10
Subject: FW: H1N1 Influenza Vaccinations available to all students, staff and faculty at Moore now

The Philadelphia Department of Public Health (PDPH) has notified area colleges and universities that supplies of the H1N1 vaccine are sufficient enough at this time, that we may now make the H1 N1 influenza vaccination available to ALL individuals at our schools that would like to receive it. I am offering this vaccine at Student Health Services -Stahl Hall 1 Fl. Monday- Friday 10am-2pm. There is no charge for this service.

According to the PDPH: “Seasonal influenza activity typically does not peak until February, and most experts believe that there will be at least one more wave of H1N1 influenza activity in the US.” They continue to strongly recommend that anyone in the priority group be vaccinated:

1. ALL people aged 6 months –24 years old.
2. People 25-64 years old who have health conditions that put them at higher risk of flu complications ( chronic pulmonary( including asthma), cardiovascular( except hypertension), renal, hepatic, cognitive/neuromuscular, hematologic, metabolic disorders ( including diabetes mellitus or immunosuppression ( caused by medications or HIV ).
3. People of any age who are pregnant during flu season.
4. People of any age who are healthcare or EMS personnel.
5. People of any age who are parents/ caregivers of infants under 6 months of age.

For further information regarding influenza, please visit the Centers for Disease Control’s website at    www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu

Diane Azuma, RN
Student Health Services
215-965-4032