Dear Campus Community,
The University continues to receive the H1N1 vaccine for faculty, staff and students. As expected, due to differences in the manufacturing process, the vaccine shipments received have been primarily the intranasal form of the vaccine rather than the shot. The nasal vaccine is indicated for healthy individuals between the ages of 2 and 49.
People who are pregnant or have certain medical conditions like asthma, diabetes or an illness that causes their immune system to be suppressed should not receive the nasal form of the vaccine. When the University receives the shot form of the vaccine, it will be administered to people in these groups. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Web site includes recommendations for receiving each form of the vaccine: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/vis/downloads/vis-laiv-h1n1.pdf.
The University is following CDC recommendations to vaccinate pregnant women, people who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age, health-care and emergency medical services personnel, people between the ages of 6 months and 24 years old, and people ages 25 through 64 who are at higher risk of H1N1 because of chronic health disorders or compromised immune systems.
The Department of Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) is holding clinics to administer the nasal form of the vaccine to students, faculty and staff in these target groups. Most people in these groups should be able to receive the nasal vaccine. They can make an appointment to receive the nasal form of the vaccine during any of the eight clinic dates below by going to the EHS Web site: http://www.ehs.unc.edu/ueohc/h1n1flushot.shtml.
The following clinics for the nasal form of the vaccine will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.:
Monday, Nov. 9: Hooker - Lower Level Atrium;
Tuesday, Nov. 10: MBRB - 2nd Floor Lobby;
Wednesday, Nov. 11: SASB - Upendo;
Thursday, Nov. 12: Student Union - Great Hall;
Friday, Nov. 13: Giles Horney - Magnolia Room;
Monday, Nov. 16: Student Union - Room 2518;
Tuesday, Nov. 17: Student Union - Room 2518; and
Wednesday, Nov.18: MBRB - 2nd Floor Lobby.
There will be no out-of-pocket expense for students or employees who have the following insurance coverage: the State Health Plan, Blue Cross Blue Shield; Partners; Aetna; Humana Gold; SummaCare; Advantra Freedom; or Medicare Part B. However, you must bring your current insurance card and a photo ID to the clinic. If you are not insured with any of these companies, you can still be vaccinated, but you will have to pay an administrative fee of $12 (cash or check). The fee is paid to an outside health-care agency for the nurses and other staff providing the vaccination service, not to the University.
University health officials have ordered a sufficient quantity of the H1N1 vaccine for all students, faculty and staff who want to be vaccinated. As additional doses of the vaccine arrive, the University will send the campus community details about how and when people can be vaccinated. Be sure to check Alert Carolina, http://alertcarolina.unc.edu/go/site/1395, for updates about distribution of the H1N1 vaccine and for general information about the H1N1 flu.
Sincerely,
Mary Beth Koza, Director of the Department of Environment, Health and Safety
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