Flu Update: November 16, 2009
The Health Services department continues to see students experiencing symptoms of the flu. However, there has been a drop in the number of students compared to a month age. Since September, Health Services has seen about 220 cases of flu or flu-like illness.
The York/Adams Metropolitan Medical Response System (YAMMRS), an organization that is coordinating the distribution of the H1N1 vaccine to school districts and colleges in York and Adams counties, has registered for approximately 190,000 doses of the H1N1 vaccine but to date has only received about 28,000 doses. Due to the delay in manufacture and delivery of this vaccine, YAMMRS will focus its distribution on students ages 5 to 24 years and has begun vaccinating school-age children first.
We do not have a confirmed date for distribution of the vaccine to occur at Gettysburg College, but we have been told it may happen between Thanksgiving and the semester break in mid-December. When it is made available we will notify students immediately.
In the meantime, because a date to vaccinate Gettysburg College students against H1N1 has not been confirmed, we are strongly urging all students to take advantage if there is an opportunity to get vaccinated while at home during Thanksgiving break. We are encouraging employees to do the same thing if they have the opportunity to get vaccinated, too. When Gettysburg College does receive a supply of the vaccine, only students and a handful of front-line health responders at the college will receive it. YAMMRS will plan on additional community clinics when enough vaccine has been released to them.
As previously communicated, we ask that everyone become familiar with the symptoms of the flu, risk factors, and process on when to seek evaluation and treatment. Also, please follow prevention guidelines, especially hand washing and sanitizing.
Sincerely,
Fred Kinsella MSN FNP-BC
Director of Health Services
Gettysburg College
300 North Washington Street · Gettysburg, PA 17325