Nov. 2009 Update on Flu Preparedness at WSU

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Michigan Department of Public Health report that the H1N1 virus is now widespread in the state of Michigan. The incidence of flu-like illness is expected to increase in the near future and many people are looking for flu vaccinations.

Wayne State University has received a limited supply of H1N1 vaccine from the Detroit Department of Health and Wellness Promotion, which is responsible for distributing the H1N1 vaccine to all health care providers in the City of Detroit. Because the vaccine will arrive in small batches and sporadically, with some as nasal spray and some for injection, it is necessary to get the vaccine to those who need it the most.

In its initial shipment, WSU will stringently follow CDC guidance regarding who receives the vaccine first. http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/public/vaccination_qa_pub.htm.  This includes:

• Pregnant women
• People who live with or care for infants younger than six months of age
• Health care and emergency medical care personnel
• Anyone 25-64 years of age with chronic medical conditions or a compromised immune system
• People 6 months to 24 years of age

For students, the Campus Health Center has already started giving FREE immunizations.  The Campus Health Center is located on 5200 Anthony Wayne Dr., Suite 115 (across from Einstein Brothers Bagels on the first floor of the DeRoy Apartments).  The office can be reached at (313) 577-5041 or on the Web at http://health.wayne.edu.

As more vaccine becomes available and after high priority groups are immunized, WSU clinics for healthy faculty and staff will be scheduled by Human Resources in conjunction with the University Pharmacy. Look for upcoming emails on these clinics. An administrative fee will be charged for faculty and staff immunizations. In the meantime, if you have questions on H1N1 or seasonal flu vaccinations, please contact the University Pharmacy at (313) 831-2008.

The H1N1 vaccine is either a nasal spray or an injection. Each form is used for certain populations.

• Injectable vaccine is for anyone over the age of 6 months http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/vis/downloads/vis-inact-h1n1.pdf.
• Nasal spray vaccine is only used for healthy individuals ages 2 to 49. http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/vis/downloads/vis-laiv-h1n1.pdf. (The nasal spray is not used for pregnant women or anyone with an underlying health condition.)

WSU employees, who are not health care professionals and do not fall into a high risk category, are encouraged to see their primary care physician or go to city and/or county health department clinics which are being held throughout the region in November and December. Please keep in mind that city and county health departments will distribute the vaccine according to priority groups established by the CDC.

As members of the WSU community, it is important we work together to allow those people most in need of the vaccine first priority. WSU hopes to obtain more vaccine each week, however, the timeliness and quantity of future shipments is not guaranteed.

In the meantime, follow the tips to stay healthy and flu-free this year. Cover your cough, wash hands frequently, stay home if you are sick and don’t go back to work or class until you are fever-free for at least 24 hours and get your flu shot when it is available. If you miss class because of flu-like illness, please be sure to contact your instructor as soon as possible.

Although WSU is taking the outbreak of H1N1 seriously, the good news is that an overwhelming number of people who get this flu recover in about five to seven days. The University is working hard to manage this outbreak so there is minimal disruption to our educational and research mission.

Sincerely,
Valerie M. Parisi, MD, MPH, MBA
Interim Dean, Wayne State University School of Medicine
 
Barbara Redman, PhD, RN, FAAN
Dean, Wayne State University College of Nursing
 
Information on the Wayne State response to the flu:
http://fluinfo.wayne.edu