Alfred University Wellness Center

H1N1 Vaccine will be included in the Seasonal Flu vaccine.

Seasonal Flu Vaccinations will be available to AU students at Health Services.

Students with chronic health conditions (see list below) are especially encouraged to get vaccinated.

According to CDC, students with the following chronic health conditions should be vaccinated for the Seasonal Flu and H1N1:

• Pregnancy (with your doctor's recommendation)
• Asthma
• Neurological and neuro-developmental conditions (such as seizure disorders, muscular dystrophy, or spinal cord injury)
• Chronic lung disease (such as cystic fibrosis)
• Heart disease (such as congenital heart defects)
• Diabetes
• Kidney disease
• Liver disorders
• Metabolic disorders
• Blood disorders (such as sickle cell)
• Weakened immune system due to disease of medication (sucha as those on long-term steroid treatment or people with HIV, AIDS)

Health Services Office Hours -Monday through Friday 8:30 to 4:30

FOR BEST SERVICE PLEASE CALL Health Services 607-871-2400

RESPIRATORY DISTRESS IS A MEDICAL EMERGENCY: CALL 911

IF YOU ARE ILL AND IT IS NOT AN EMERGENCY:

At this time there are no Urgent Care facilities in the area. If you are ill and feel you need immediate but non-emergency care, please go to either St. James or Jones Memorial Emergency Departments.

ST JAMES MERCY

Q&A WHAT TO DO ABOUT THE FLU:

Influenza like Illness (ILI), Seasonal Flu, or H1N1

Q: How will I know I have the flu or Influenza like Illness (ILI)?

A: Look for these symptoms:

Please call Health Services (607-871-2400) if you have these symptoms. The Infuenza like Illness (ILI) that is circulating does not always include fever, so please call with symptoms even if you have no fever.

Q: I've heard that students at other colleges have become critically ill from ILI. How do I know if someone is getting that sick?

A: Critical illness from ILI is rare, most students recover fully after 3-5 days. But, if you or someone you know is ill with ILI and they have the Emergency Warning Signs below, please be sure they receive immediate medical attention. Most students who've become critically ill had underlying medical conditions such as asthma, pregnancy, diabeties, or heart conditions. That's why protecting these individuals form the virus is an importan prevention step.

Emergency Warning Signs (Get Immediate Medical Care-call AU Rescue Squad at 607-871-2911 or 911)

• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

• Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen

• Signs of dehydration such as sudden dizziness when standing or absence of urination

• Confusion

• Severe or persistent vomiting

• Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough

Q: How can I get vaccinated agaist ILI? Vaccination is the first step in flu prevention. 

A: The H1N1 Vaccination should be available in October. Seasonal flu vaccine production is on hold while drug companies produce H1N1. Seasonal vaccines will be available again soon. Please watch this page and Alfred Today for flu vaccine clinic announcements.The seasonal flu vaccine will not protect against novel H1N1 (swine flu). For more information about seasonal and H1N1viruses and vaccinations please visit the Centers for Disease Control website.CDC Website

New information on the Seasonal Flu and H1N1 vaccination opportunities will be posted as it becomes available.

Behaviors that prevent the transmission of H1N1 are the same as those that prevent the spread of the seasonal flu. The CDC recommends the following preventive behaviors as protection from contracting the flu:

• CDC recommends a yearly seasonal flu vaccine as the first and most important step
• Seasonal flu vaccine protects against the three seasonal viruses that research suggests will be most common this season
• Vaccination is especially important for people at high risk of serious flu complications, including young children, pregnant women, people with chronic health conditions like asthma, diabetes, or heart and lung disease and people 65 years and older
• Seasonal flu vaccine will not protect you against H1N1
• A new vaccine against H1N1 is being produced and will be available in the coming months
• College-aged students are considered a targeted population for the H1N1 vaccine regimen

Everyday Preventive Actions

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Cough or Sneeze in your sleeve if you do not have a tissue available.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water especially after you cough or sneeze.
• Sanitize your hands with alcohol–based hand cleaners when soap and water are not available.  Be sure the hand sanitizer brand contains 60% to 95% ethanol or isopropanol alcohol. Bargain brands may, or may not contain 60% or more alcohol and labels may be misleading about the contents.  For more information visit the CDC website.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth unless hands are proberly cleansed. Germs and viruses can easily cross the mucosal lining of eyes, nose, and mouth and make you sick.
• Keep a reasonable distance between yourself and others and avoid contact with sick people.
• DO NOT SHARE drinks, water bottles, utensils, or eat/drink after another person.

If You Become Sick with the Flu

• Call Health Services at the Wellness Center (607-871-2400) if you have symptomes of the seasonal or H1N1 flu:

• Fever of 100.4F or higher
• Dry Cough
• Sore throat
• Body aches
• Headache
• Chills
• Fatigue
• Some people with H1N1 flu have also reported diarrhea or vomiting. 
• Like the seasonal flu, H1N1 may worsen underlying chronic medical conditions.
• Follow CDC self-care recommendations:
  • stay home at least 24 hours after your fever is gone, without the use of fever reducing medicines (Advil, Tylenol, etc.)
  • keep away from others to avoid making them sick
  • tell those you've been in close contact with over the past week that you may have the flu, so if they can seek early intervention to prevent illness
  • get plenty of rest
  • stay hydrated by drinking clear fluids (water, broth, sports drinks)
  • upon your request Health Services can provide documentation of illness (i.e., for communicating with faculty or employers)
• Seek Emergency Advice if you experience these WARNING SIGNS:
  • Shortness or breath or difficulty breathing
  • Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
  • Sudden dizziness
  • Confusion
  • Severe or persistent vomiting
  • Signs of dehydration such as dizziness when standing or absence of urination