Wednesday, December 9, 2009

H1/N1 Vaccine For Students, Today and Thursday

The H1N1 vaccine will be available to registered students, free of charge, today, 12/9, from 1:15 pm to 3:45 pm in Campus Center rooms 215 and 220 and tomorrow 12/10 from 9:30 am to 12 noon and 1:15 pm to 3:45 pm in Campus Center room 240.

The vaccine is free of charge and available to students who are 24 years or younger, and/or those who have priority consideration will also be given to students, regardless of age, who care for an infant less than 6 months of age, who are pregnant or have an underlying chronic diseases such as asthma, chronic lung disease, diabetes, heart disease (not including high blood pressure), neurological disease, etc.

Students under the age of 18 must have a signed consent by a parent or legal guardian.

Please bring your NJIT student ID to verify your student status. If you are caring for an infant, please bring verification.

Vaccine will also be available on December 9th and December 10th during the same time as above, location to be announced.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR EVERYONE: WIDESPREAD OUTBREAK IS STILL POSSIBLE

We must continue to be vigilant in preventing the spread of flu by doing the following:

  • Practice good hand hygiene by washing your hands with soap and water or with hand sanitizer, especially after coughing or sneezing.
  • Cover your mouth 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 hand.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth; germs are spread that way.
  • Don’t share eating utensils, drinking containers.
  • Avoid close bodily contact with individuals who appear ill.

The common signs and symptoms of flu include the following; fever/ chills, cough and / or sore throat. Additionally you may experience headache, general body aches, sneezing and/or runny nose, extreme fatigue, nausea and/or vomiting, and poor appetite.

Fever is considered to be a temperature that is equal or greater than 100 degrees Fahrenheit or 38 degrees Celsius, or if a person feels very warm, has a flushed appearance, or is sweating or is shivery. If a temperature is taken, it should be taken before a fever reducer such as Tylenol (acetaminophen) or ibuprofen are given. Aspirin should be avoided if under age 20.

What you do if you believe you have contacted the flu?

Self isolate. Stay at home in a separate room or, if you are a student, in your residence hall room for at least 24 hours after the fever, or symptoms of fever resolve. Students in residence should immediately notify their R.A. or Hall Director if they are unable to go home in order for appropriate care arrangements can be made.

See your health care provider immediately if your symptoms are more severe such as shortness of breath, chest pain, excessive vomiting, and cough with blood tinged mucous, sudden deterioration of your condition. Do not go to class or work or come to campus. Avoid contact with others.

Get plenty of bed rest, increase fluid ingestion such as water, clear soups and broths, ginger ale, weak tea, and/or sports drinks. Avoid alcohol.

For sore throat, gargle with warm salt and water and use lozenges. Humidify the air with pans of water in the room or with a vaporizer.

Don’t sweat it out by layering on more clothing or blankets then usual since this can increase the body temperature. Instead take a fever reducer such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin).

As per university policy, students who are ill and miss class for more than three days and/or missing presentations, quizzes or exams should notify the Dean of Students Office by emailing doss@njit.edu or by calling (973) 596-3470. The Dean’s office will notify faculty members. Be prepared to provide documentation, especially if you are missing an exam.

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