H1N1 and Seasonal Flu Announcement

Previous Tufts H1N1 Updates

In response to the H1N1 pandemic declared by the World Health Organization, the School of Medicine is committed to keeping you up to date with the latest general pandemic and Tufts-specific information through multiple channels, including e-mail, the School of Medicine website, TUSK and posters.

Tufts Health Advisory Brochure

We have approximately 3 to 5 medical students reporting influenza-like illness. Fortunately, symptoms are mild. Accommodations for students who fall ill can be made through student affairs for MD students and administrative offices for PHPD and Sackler.

Faculty, staff and students will receive regular updates on flu action information both specific to them and related to the school of medicine community, including:

• Preventive measures you can take (see information below)
• Vaccinations (see information below)
• Time off policy/flexibility for those who become ill (page 39)
• Information about how to work from home

H1N1 and Seasonal Flu Vaccinations:

They will be giving the vaccine on a walk-in basis and will continue receiving shipments of vaccine in the coming weeks.

Seasonal Flu Clinic October 16

Tufts Medical Center's Employee Health has scheduled a seasonal flu vaccine clinic for Friday, October 16th from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Please go to TMC's Employee Health Services located on Proger 6N to receive your seasonal flu vaccine, if you have not already done so. For now, Employee Health will be vaccinating only the hospital staff and Tufts Medical students who have patient contact at Tufts Medical Center. Be sure to take your Tufts University ID with you.

The H1N1 vaccine will be available in October, at which time information about when and where to receive the vaccine will be provided.

PHPD and Sackler Students:
The free seasonal flu vaccine was held, as scheduled, on Monday September 21. All students who visited the clinic were accommodated. Those students who missed this clinic should contact their health care provider or visit one of the private clinics listed on the sidebar.

The H1N1 vaccine will be available in October and November through a phased roll out. Students who are in one of the CDC prioritized categories (e.g., health care workers including medical students, pregnant mothers, anyone 24 years of age or younger, and those with special health conditions such as asthma, diabetes and certain respiratory conditions) will receive the first vaccines. We plan to provide the vaccine free of charge through on-campus clinics. More information will be forthcoming in October.

School of Medicine Faculty and Staff:
Health Services anticipates receiving more seasonal flu vaccine in one to two months and will advertise additional staff and faculty clinics at that time. Seasonal flu does not usually hit until January or February and we anticipate being able to vaccinate staff and faculty well before then. If you would like to receive the vaccine earlier, please contact your health care provider or consider the options listed on the right side of this page.

The new vaccine to protect against H1N1 influenza will be available through a phased roll out in October and November. While the university plans to offer a vaccine clinic for faculty and staff in the CDC-prioritized categories (e.g., health care workers including medical students, pregnant mothers, anyone 24 years of age or younger, and those with special health conditions such as asthma, diabetes and certain respiratory conditions), we suggest that individuals seek the vaccine through their health care providers.

More information on flu preparedness at Tufts is available at http://emergency.tufts.edu/flu. Thank you for your collaboration as we work together to keep the Tufts community healthy.

Preventive Measures

Cooperation from the entire medical school with the following actions is critical to safeguarding our community. PLEASE:

• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water
• Use the hand sanitizer units located by elevators in all medical school buildings
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth
• Cough and sneeze into a tissue or the sleeve of your shirt
• Stay home if you are ill

Students who experience flu-like symptoms should not go to class. Students on the Medford/Somerville campus may come to Tufts Health Services to be evaluated. Students in Boston and Grafton should contact their doctor with concerns about flu symptoms. Faculty and staff who are ill with flu should not come to work and should contact their primary care provider.

Public health authorities recommend that anyone ill with flu self-isolate until they have been fever free for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication). People WITHOUT fever do not need to be concerned about having an influenza-like illness. See Tufts Health Advisory Brochure