Student CommunicationsNovember 9, 2009 To: UMD Campus Community From: John King, Pandemic Flu Response Team Chair Subject: Eligibility Criteria for H1N1 Nasal FluMist Vaccine
The University of Minnesota Duluth currently has a limited supply of H1N1 nasal FluMist vaccine. Per the recommendation from the Minnesota Department of Health, the University will administer the current supply of vaccine to eligible "high priority" students, staff, and faculty at no out-of-pocket cost. Eligible "high priority" groups for H1N1 nasal FluMist vaccine include:
This nasal vaccine is not approved for pregnant women. Students, faculty, and staff who fit these criteria are eligible to receive H1N1 nasal FluMist vaccine at Health Services. Call 726-8617 to schedule your H1N1 vaccine appointment. Eligible employees also have the option of receiving their vaccine at the Quick Care Clinic. UMD Medical and Pharmacy students will receive a separate communication with procedures to receive their vaccine. If you are unclear about whether you are eligible, call Health Services at 726-8617. Providing H1N1 nasal FluMist vaccine to eligible students, faculty and staff will exhaust our current vaccine supply. As the Minnesota Department of Health expands the definition of who is eligible to receive vaccine and as we receive more vaccine, including the injectable vaccine, we will update the UMD community by e-mail and our website (http://www.d.umn.edu/emergency/). November 2, 2009 Dear University of Minnesota Duluth students, faculty, and staff, Update on H1N1 cases H1N1 cases at the University, in the Duluth area, and in greater Minnesota have significantly increased in the past two weeks.
H1N1 vaccine availability Federal officials acknowledge that the production of H1N1 vaccine has been delayed and only a small number of doses are currently available. When H1N1 vaccine supplies will be available to the general public depends on how quickly manufacturers are able to produce it. Public health officials expect that eventually there will be enough vaccine in the state for anyone who wants to be vaccinated. For now, the Minnesota Department of Health recommends giving vaccine to priority groups:
UMD Health Services is expecting a small allotment of the live, attenuated H1N1 virus vaccine called FluMist. This nasal vaccine spray is only approved for non-pregnant, healthy people between the ages of 2 and 49. People within priority groups at the University – police officers, emergency medical system personnel, healthcare providers and those who care for infants less than six months of age – who are approved to receive FluMist can be given this vaccine first. The most effective way to distribute to those who qualify is being determined by the University at this time. Next steps We are committed to keeping our student, staff and faculty as safe as possible during this unusual flu season.
Sincerely, John King, UMD Pandemic Flu Response Team Chair Kathleen O'Brien, Vice President for University Services John Finnegan, Assistant Vice President for Public Health and Dean, School of Public Health October 5, 2009 To: UMD Campus Community From: John King, Pandemic Flu Response Team Chair Subject: Seasonal Flu Immunization Clinic Update UMD will hold its first seasonal flu (not H1N1) immunization clinic on Tuesday, October 6, from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM in the Kirby Lounge. Since we have only received a partial shipment of seasonal flu vaccine, immunizations will continue as long as the vaccine supply lasts. A second clinic has been tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, October 7, from 1:00 to 5:00 PM, also in the Kirby Lounge. http://www.d.umn.edu/emergency/flu/seasonal_flu_vaccine_clinics.html This year there will be no charge at the flu clinics for UMD students, faculty and staff (with appropriate identification).
All others will be charged $20.00. Additional immunization clinics will be scheduled when UMD receives the remaining shipment of seasonal flu vaccine. Please check the Emergency Preparedness web page (http://www.d.umn.edu/emergency/) for updated information. September 21, 2009 To: UMD Students From: Vince Magnuson, Vice Chancellor for Academic Administration Re: H1N1 Update The H1N1 virus is a serious and growing health concern, one that UMD is working diligently to address in order to protect the health and safety of all of its members and to continue its many services. All members of the UMD community should take responsibility to stay informed about H1N1 and to prepare for possible illness. If you develop flu-like symptoms,
C: John King September 16, 2009 To: all students Subject: Important Information from Health Services Due to the need to focus on H1N1 education and care, and on other viral type symptoms/illnesses, it is not business as usual at Health Services. Over the next few weeks Health Services needs to respond to the increasing phone calls and our scheduled seasonal flu clinics. We ask for your patience. We will continue to see urgent and acute conditions, allergy shots, and needed immunizations/injections. We will not have as many non-emergent or routine appointments available, however you may call to leave messages and someone will get back to you. Again, we thank you for your understanding and patience during this current situation. For the health of all we must make this our priority. Respectfully submitted, UMD Health Services Staff September 11, 2009 To: UMD Students From: John King, Pandemic Flu Response Team Chair Subject: H1N1 Medical Services In light of the recent H1N1 activity in the Twin Ports area, please be advised that UMD is monitoring the spread of H1N1 and planning accordingly. UMD's emergency preparedness plan includes utilizing the medical services of our Health Services center and when Health Services is closed for evenings or weekends, relying on the Duluth medical community to assist our students, faculty, and staff. As a reminder, office hours for UMD Health Services are 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday and 9:00 - 4:00 on Thursdays. After hours, in case of medical emergency call St. Luke's Hospital at 249-5616, St. Luke's Urgent Care Clinic at 249-6095, Nurse on Line at 786-3110, St. Mary's Hospital at 786-4357 or St. Mary's Urgent Care at 786-6000. Please report flu-related illnesses to UMD Health Services during their normal business hours, 218-726-8155 to assist us in monitoring H1N1 activity at UMD. Additional H1N1 information may be accessed at http://www.d.umn.edu/emergency/ August 28, 2009 To: UMD Campus Community From: John King, Pandemic Flu Response Team Chair Subject: Preparation for H1N1 Flu at UMD Like other universities and colleges across the nation, UMD is continuing to monitor the activity of the H1N1 novel influenza virus. At this time, there have been more than 600 cases documented in Minnesota as well as documented cases in neighboring states. For the past several months, UMD leaders have been meeting regularly with representatives from the St. Louis County Health Department and the Minnesota Department of Health to develop a comprehensive pandemic flu response plan. UMD's Pandemic Influenza Response is part of the UMD Emergency Operations Plan and is located as a link at both http://www.d.umn.edu/emergency and http://www.d.umn.edu/ (click on Emergency Preparedness). UMD has also been monitoring the status of H1N1 with the Centers for Disease Control on both a local and national level and continue to modify our plan as new information becomes available from the CDC. UMD's Pandemic Influenza Response is based on levels of severity and transmission of the virus with a phased response plan. The goal of the plan is two-fold; to respond appropriately to those who are ill and to maintain a safe educational environment for the students, faculty, and staff that are unaffected. The plan outlines contingency measures in numerous "what-if" scenarios. It also identifies critical campus services and the priority and manner in which they will be maintained. Like any emergency response plan, UMD's plan is an evolving document. It will be updated as additional information becomes available. Since we are modeling our plan on the recommendations of the CDC and Minnesota Department of Health, we are confident that the plan is a valuable, reliable resource should we face a pandemic health emergency. We encourage everyone to get the seasonal flu vaccine (different from H1N1) as soon as possible (clinics at UMD will be held on September 21, 23, 29 & 30 and October 7). At this time, H1N1 vaccination information is pending on the national level. October is the earliest it is expected to be available and it may involve two separate shots. When updated information becomes available, UMD will communicate with students, faculty, and staff regarding the availability and distribution of the H1N1 vaccine. UMD is committed to protecting the health and safety of our campus community. We encourage students to share this information and web site with their parents and to check the site regularly for updated information. JK/ca |
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