H1N1 vaccine to arrive by early November
students advised to take extra measures
Alana Kansaku-Sarmiento
Issue date: 9/17/09 Section: News
Some students may have forgotten about the swine flu over the summer, but the Pacific University Pandemic Flu Task Force most certainly did not.
On August 17, the Pacific community received an email from the Task Force in an effort to insure that students, faculty, staff and administration do all that they can to prevent the Swine Flu (H1N1) from plaguing our school like it has others (Washington State University reported 2,600 cases as of Wednesday, September 9).
The email gave the standard recommendations, including sneezing and coughing into a tissue, washing hands often, restrain from sharing food and drink, and avoiding contact with people who are ill.
On Tuesday, September 11, Pacific University Provost John Miller sent an email to the deans of each Pacific campus (College of Arts and Sciences, College of Optometry, College of Education), issuing a directive on how to prevent cases of H1N1 from sweeping their campuses, as well as how to handle individual situations should students fall ill. A quote taken from the policy manual issued states: students who are experiencing flu-like symptoms are to stay home, to avoid gatherings, and are not to attend classes. These students may not be penalized academically for flu-related absences and do not need a healthcare provider's verification of infection (in accordance with CDC recommendations, mainly because offices may be swamped and unable to respond)."
Flu-like symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, diarrhea and vomiting.
"We are not trying to scare students," said Pacific University Dean John Hayes. "We don't think that the worst-case scenario is going to happen, we just don't want students coming to class when they're sick. That's the message we're trying to get out."
A recent breakthrough has led to the creation of an H1N1 vaccine which will be distributed by the government to each state beginning at the end of September, or early October. The response to the H1N1 virus, including researching and creating a vaccine, has been one of the fastest of any influenza vaccine (the flu was first discovered in April of 2009).
On August 17, the Pacific community received an email from the Task Force in an effort to insure that students, faculty, staff and administration do all that they can to prevent the Swine Flu (H1N1) from plaguing our school like it has others (Washington State University reported 2,600 cases as of Wednesday, September 9).
The email gave the standard recommendations, including sneezing and coughing into a tissue, washing hands often, restrain from sharing food and drink, and avoiding contact with people who are ill.
On Tuesday, September 11, Pacific University Provost John Miller sent an email to the deans of each Pacific campus (College of Arts and Sciences, College of Optometry, College of Education), issuing a directive on how to prevent cases of H1N1 from sweeping their campuses, as well as how to handle individual situations should students fall ill. A quote taken from the policy manual issued states: students who are experiencing flu-like symptoms are to stay home, to avoid gatherings, and are not to attend classes. These students may not be penalized academically for flu-related absences and do not need a healthcare provider's verification of infection (in accordance with CDC recommendations, mainly because offices may be swamped and unable to respond)."
Flu-like symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, diarrhea and vomiting.
"We are not trying to scare students," said Pacific University Dean John Hayes. "We don't think that the worst-case scenario is going to happen, we just don't want students coming to class when they're sick. That's the message we're trying to get out."
A recent breakthrough has led to the creation of an H1N1 vaccine which will be distributed by the government to each state beginning at the end of September, or early October. The response to the H1N1 virus, including researching and creating a vaccine, has been one of the fastest of any influenza vaccine (the flu was first discovered in April of 2009).
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Miami moving company
posted 9/18/09 @ 9:17 AM PST
It's great that the vaccine was developed so quickly and that it will be free. I'm looking forward to getting it, though I have never had a flu shot before. (Continued…)
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