• Directories | A to Z | Home

H1N1 Virus Campus Advisory

December 8, 2009

Dear Students:

As you work toward the end of the semester and some well-deserved rest, we encourage you to continue to take care of your health and well being.

H1N1 and seasonal flu remain an issue in our community, although we are experiencing fewer cases. Earlier in the term, we reported that we were seeing around 4-6 students per day with flu-like symptoms at the peak of the early season, and now are seeing about zero to one per day. Our Health Service has been able to keep up with this number of cases and has been answering questions for students and families as they try to sort out the myriad of information available to them.

The availability of H1N1 vaccine in Northfield has been limited and confined to high risk groups, although the CDC is expanding the guidelines slowly. We have been able to refer students with high-risk health issues for vaccination to the Northfield Hospital and local urgent care, and will continue to do so. It’s possible St. Olaf will be able to get a H1N1 vaccination clinic on campus in January, but that is not confirmed. This means that if you have the opportunity to get the vaccine when you are home for Christmas Break, please make it a priority to do so. This is especially true if you will be off campus in January and will not be here if our vendor is able to come to St. Olaf. You can also call the local clinics for H1N1 vaccine availability.

Getting vaccinated is important, as we anticipate the H1N1 virus will return with some vigor in the coming months, and being protected against it is strongly advised.

In the meantime, eat right, sleep well, live a balanced life, and continue to do all you can to take care of yourself and your friends.

Our best,

Greg Kneser
Dean of Students

Marie Sampson, MSN,FNP-BC
Health Services Director

H1N1 VACCINATION CLINIC

Get your H1N1 flu shot on January 13 and January 14 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Buntrock Commons ballrooms.

Available to all students, faculty, and staff. The cost is $15 by cash or check only.

PRESIDENT ANDERSON

"Our plan, based on what we know now, is to follow the recommendations of the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services and of Education: be vigilant about engaging in preventive measures, isolate those who do fall ill, and remove any pressures for the ill to return to class or work while they are still contagious.

We do not expect to quarantine ill students, mainly because we do not have the facilities to do that appropriately. Rather, we will ask students to stay in their residence hall rooms or go home if they live nearby until they have recovered.

This is a time when we all need to look out for one another, but that is something this community excels at, and I am hopeful that we will be able to navigate through the flu season without having to take more drastic measures."

PREVIOUS ADVISORIES

October 19, 2009
September 16, 2009
September 2, 2009
April 28, 2009

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

St. Olaf Pandemic Planning and Response Task Force webpage

Minnesota Department of Health 24-Hour FluLine: 1-866-259-4655

Callers with flu symptoms can talk directly with a nurse about treatment options and whether they should seek additional medical care. There is no charge for the call.