H1N1 flu vaccine available to pregnant women
WUSTL seeing only one or two new flu cases most days
Frequently Asked Questions: |
Nov. 17, 2009 — Washington University will provide free 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccinations beginning Nov. 20 to current faculty, staff and students who are pregnant.
Danforth Campus students who are pregnant can get the vaccine at the Habif Health and Wellness Center from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Nov. 20.
Danforth Campus faculty and staff who are pregnant can get the vaccine from 10 a.m.–1 p.m. Nov. 23 in Room 248 of the Danforth University Center.
School of Medicine faculty, staff and students who are pregnant may call Occupational Health Services at 362-3528 for an appointment to receive the vaccine.
To receive the vaccine, faculty, staff and students must present their Washington University ID and employee or student number. Pregnant spouses of employees are not eligible.
Because the 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine is an FDA-approved product using the same facilities, materials and technologies used to make the annual seasonal flu vaccines, it is believed that the safety profile is similar to seasonal flu vaccine.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the use of one dose of 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine for persons 10 years old and older. The vaccine can be administered at the same time as other vaccines.
The 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine is available in an inactivated injection and a live form in a nasal spray. The nasal spray is licensed for people from age 2–49 who are not pregnant and do not have certain health conditions, including asthma and diabetes.
The seasonal flu vaccine is not expected to protect against the 2009 H1N1 flu. Similarly, the 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine will not protect against seasonal influenza. For this reason, seasonal flu vaccine continues to be recommended for health-care workers and individuals at highest risk of complications from seasonal influenza.
Updates will follow as the vaccine becomes available for more widespread distribution to faculty, staff and students. An effort is being made to first vaccinate those who are at highest risk for H1N1 flu complications.
General Update: WUSTL seeing only one or two new flu cases most days
Washington University in St. Louis experienced a significant bump in the number of presumed Influenza A flu cases reported among its students during October, but the infection rate has since moderated with only one or two new cases now being reported most days. All students confirmed with flu have been recuperating from the illness while in self-isolation and returning to normal schedules with few complications.
Washington University is monitoring the situation closely. All classes and campus activities are currently proceeding as scheduled.
Like many universities around the nation, Washington University is just beginning to receive its first small shipments of 2009 H1N1 vaccine. The University is in the process of vaccinating faculty, students and staff in the highest risk groups. Details on a broader availability of 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine will be posted as new supplies become available.
Meanwhile, several city and county health departments in the St. Louis region are beginning to offer free 2009 H1N1 flu vaccines to high-risk residents on a limited, first-come, first-served basis at a series of vaccine clinics at sites throughout the community.
More information on the St. Louis County flu vaccine clinics is available at http://www.SaintLouisCountyFlu.com. Information on other health departments offering free 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine clinics in counties across Missouri is available at http://www.fighttheflumo.com/contact.html.
The 2009 H1N1 vaccine will be made available based on CDC recommendations, with initial supplies going first to people identified to be at highest risk of flu complications and to certain caregivers, including:
- pregnant women;
- persons who live with or provide care for children less than 6 months of age, such as parents, siblings and day-care providers;
- health-care and emergency medical services personnel;
- children ages 6 months to 4 years;
- youths from ages 5–18 who are at higher risk for complications of influenza because of chronic health disorders (including asthma) or compromised immune systems.
University has been offering seasonal flu vaccines to its students. Details on season flu vaccine clinics for Danforth Campus students are available on the University Student Health Services web site (http://shs.wustl.edu/). Medical student flu vaccine clinics are detailed on the School of Medicine Student Health Service web site (http://wusmhealth.wustl.edu/).
In addition to vaccination, other ways to prevent all forms of the flu are getting proper rest, nutrition and exercise; regularly washing hands with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing, or using alcohol-based hand sanitizers; covering the mouth or nose with a tissue when sneezing or coughing; coughing or sneezing into the elbow or upper arm; and avoiding touching the eyes, nose and mouth.
It is important for all people who are sick with flu-like symptoms to stay home and recover — this will help to reduce the spread of infection. Those with suspected or confirmed flu should not return to class or work until they have been free of fever for 24 hours without the aid of fever-reducing medications. Symptoms usually last a few days to a week.
Common symptoms of 2009 H1N1 influenza are similar to those of seasonal influenza and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Treatment is the same and includes over-the-counter medications to treat flu symptoms and, in some instances, prescription anti-viral medications to reduce the severity of the flu. The great majority of 2009 H1N1 flu cases in the United States have been mild and have not required hospitalization.
The CDC does not recommend that universities cancel classes or large events to contain the 2009 H1N1 unless the disease becomes severe and widespread.
Washington University will continue to update this web site as more information becomes available. The web site also includes information about flu prevention and treatment.
For the latest information on 2009 H1N1, please visit the CDC web site at http://www.cdc.gov/H1N1FLU.
