Student H1N1 vaccinations Saturday; BCTV report

To: Bates Students
From: Christy Tisdale, director of health services, and Tedd Goundie, dean of students
Date: Oct. 9, 2009

Dear Bates Students,

Following our six positive tests yesterday for H1N1, the Maine CDC has allocated to us 900 emergency doses of H1N1 nasal spray vaccine.  With the help of staff from the state, we will run an H1N1 vaccine clinic TOMORROW (SATURDAY), OCTOBER 10 FROM 8:00 A.M. TO 2:00 P.M. IN CHASE LOUNGE.  Unfortunately, the available nasal spray vaccine is contraindicated for any student with a chronic respiratory condition such as asthma.  The state is working to provide a number of injectable H1N1 vaccine by the end of next week for those high risk students with respiratory illnesses, and we will notify you when these vaccines arrive and schedule a clinic.  There is no charge for the vaccines administered at tomorrow’s clinic.

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BCTV Report: Director of Health Services Christy Tisdale is interviewed by BCTV’s James Dowling-Healey ’12 on actions Bates College is taking to limit the spread of H1N1.

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We ask all students who want the H1N1 nasal spray to follow these directions.  We are dividing the 900 doses as evenly as possible across alphabetical increments of 45 minutes each.  Using the first letter of your last name, please follow the time slots that are assigned below.  If you come at a different time, you will need to wait until the end of that time block and IF vaccine is still available, you will receive a dose.  All students should bring ID to the clinic.

A-B   from 8 a.m. to 8:45 a.m.
C-D   from 8:45 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
E-G   from 9:30 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.
H-K   from 10:15 a.m. to 11 a.m.
L-M   from 11 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.
N-P   from 11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Q-S   from 12:30 p.m. to 1:15 p.m.
T-Z   from 1:15 p.m. to 2 p.m.

Please understand that the Health Center staff is inundated trying to meet students medical needs and organize a very large H1N1 flu clinic for tomorrow.  We ask that calls to the Health Center be limited to emergencies only.  As always, any student with an acute medical problem should come directly to the Health Center.

Thank you for your cooperation in helping us to prevent a major outbreak of the H1N1 virus on campus.