The School of Medicine will offer free seasonal flu and H1N1 vaccines to its faculty, staff and students around its campuses this fall.
Seasonal flu shots will begin Tuesday, Sept. 29. The University will provide additional details about H1N1 vaccination schedules for medical center patients and personnel in the coming weeks.
The seasonal flu vaccine protects against the three main flu strains that research indicates will cause the most illness during the flu season — it is not expected to protect against the H1N1 flu.
Anyone who wants to reduce the chances of getting the seasonal flu can get vaccinated. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended since 1984 that health-care workers be vaccinated annually.
James P. Crane, M.D., associate vice chancellor for clinical affairs and chief executive officer of the Faculty Practice Plan, said vaccination is sound medical policy.
“It protects the health of our employees and their families and also protects our patients from becoming severely ill,” Crane said. “This is particularly important when caring for older adults who are at higher risk for dying from seasonal influenza. Seniors account for 30 percent to 40 percent of the patients we treat and are best protected when those working in a health-care setting are immunized, thus creating a defensive shield around them.”
Karen Winters, M.D., assistant professor of medicine and director of the Student and Employee Health Service at the medical school, said she anticipates that the supply of seasonal flu vaccine should be adequate.
“We strongly encourage everyone to get vaccinated for their protection and others,” she said.
Washington University reported its first case of H1N1 influenza on the Danforth Campus Sept. 8, with several more cases reported in the following days.
The H1N1 flu vaccine has been approved and should be ready for release in October. H1N1 vaccine production will not meet the demand for the general population initially, so H1N1 vaccinations will be given on a priority basis to people identified to be at highest risk. Distribution of the H1N1 vaccine will be implemented through departments of health at the direction of the U.S. government.
School of Medicine infectious disease experts are working with local health departments to understand and develop plans for H1N1 vaccination that will target specific population groups. Based on H1N1 patterns that have emerged worldwide, the vaccine is expected to be made available initially to high-priority groups including:
• pregnant women;
• persons who live with or provide care for children under 6 months of age, such as parents, siblings and day-care providers;
• health-care and emergency medical services personnel who have direct contact with patients or infectious materials;
• children ages 6 months to 4 years;
• children and adolescents ages 5-18 who have medical conditions that put them at higher risk for influenza-related complications, such as asthma, diabetes or suppressed immune systems.
In addition to vaccination, other ways to prevent the flu are getting proper rest, nutrition and exercise; regularly washing hands with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing, or using alcohol-based hand sanitizers; covering the mouth or nose with a tissue when sneezing or coughing; coughing or sneezing into the elbow or upper arm; and avoiding touching the eyes, nose and mouth.
It is important for all people who are sick with flu-like symptoms to stay home and recover — this will help to reduce the spread of infection.
Those with suspected or confirmed flu should not return to class or work until they have been free of fever for 24 hours without the aid of fever-reducing medications. Symptoms usually last about seven days.
For more information, visit wustl.edu/flu.
School of Medicine seasonal flu vaccine schedule
The following locations offer School of Medicine employees a free seasonal flu vaccination. Employees and students must have their badge to obtain the vaccination and be prepared to supply their employee ID number on the consent form.
Sept. 29, 6:30 a.m.-3 p.m., First floor Center for Advanced Medicine (CAM), Barnard Cancer Information Center (only clinical faculty and staff)
Sept. 30, 6:45 a.m.-3 p.m., Northwest Tower, 10th floor, Conference Room 10A
Oct. 6, 7 a.m.-3 p.m., Third floor CAM, Farrell Conference Room 1
Oct. 7, 7 a.m.-3 p.m., Third floor CAM, Farrell Conference Room 1
Oct. 12, noon-3:30 p.m., Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital, MOB No. 3, 2nd floor kitchen
Oct. 13, 7 a.m.-12:30 p.m., First floor CAM, Barnard Cancer Information Center
Oct. 14, 6:45 a.m.-3 p.m., Northwest Tower, 10th floor, Conference Room 10A