H1N1 Information and Resources

Official University Communication

Immunization Information

H1N1 Vaccine

Click here for important information from the CDC on the H1N1 Vaccine.

The Massachusetts DPH has informed us not to expect the H1N1 vaccine at Bentley until December or January.

Seasonal Flu Vaccine

The next Bentley Seasonal Flu Clinic:

December 7, 12-5 p.m.

Back Bay Rooms, Student Center

Limited to 250 doses

For information on nearby seasonal flu vaccine clinics, please go to http://flu.masspro.org/clinic/

E-mail to Community - November 19, 2009

To the Bentley Community,

Due to the limited supplies of H1N1 vaccine available to the colleges in Massachusetts, I encourage members of our community to check for other sources for H1N1 vaccine over the Thanksgiving break. I have been advised today by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health not to expect any H1N1 vaccine at Bentley until sometime in December or January.

If you have a high risk condition and are interested in receiving the vaccine, please check with your own health care providers, specialists or local hospitals. If you do not have a high risk condition, contact your local board of health or hospitals. A list of public clinics in Massachusetts is also available by zip code at the following website - http://flu.masspro.org/clinic/.

Please check this information carefully as some clinics may offer ONLY seasonal flu vaccine, have restrictions regarding town residency, age requirements or be restricted to pregnant women or people with specific chronic illnesses.

The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) has recommended that the following groups receive the vaccine first - pregnant women, people who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age, health care and emergency medical services personnel with direct patient contact, children 6 months up to and including age 18, especially those younger than 5 years of age and those who have high risk medical conditions that put them at increased risk of influenza-related complications. For a list of high risk medical conditions - see http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/highrisk.htm.

As of November 16th, Massachusetts has received ONLY 1,000,000 doses of H1N1 vaccine out of the total 3.5 million they expected to receive. This has been extremely frustrating for our public health officials as well as for our Health Center. I have been in daily contact with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, advocating strongly for our population. Most vaccine at this point has been earmarked for pediatric and obstetric offices, hospitals and primary care offices.

When the vaccine finally arrives, we will offer it to the people in the high risk categories listed above and then will open it to high risk faculty and staff and then to the larger community. Eventually, it is our hope that every member of the community who wishes to receive H1N1 vaccine will be able to receive it.

I will continue to keep you informed about the H1N1 vaccine availability.

Gerri Taylor

Geraldine S. Taylor MS, A.N.P., B.C.
Assistant Dean for Health and Wellness
Director, Center for Health and Wellness
Bentley University
175 Forest St.
Waltham, MA 02452
Phone 781.891.2222/Fax 781.891.3443

E-mail to Community - November 4, 2009

To the Campus Community,

I am writing to update you on the influenza situation on the Bentley campus.

Some important new information:

Despite an unfounded rumor that has circulated on campus, the CDC DOES NOT have a list of schools that they are recommending to close. There is no need to suspend classes or close the campus.

Similar to many other schools, we are seeing about 10 – 20 new cases of influenza-like illness per day. As some students become ill, others have fully recovered – therefore we are not seeing all of the cases at one time in a way that would affect class attendance.

We have seen an increase in the numbers of patients with influenza-like illness – much like other Massachusetts schools and many more across the country. We have had one hospitalization and that student is fortunately recovering.

As we have shared previously:

Please remember that influenza-like illness is NOT the common cold. It usually comes on suddenly with a fever and cough or sore throat, body aches, headache, chills, fatigue and occasionally vomiting or diarrhea. We urge you to leave campus and not attend classes or meetings if you are sick with flu-like symptoms, in order to prevent any members of our community, particularly those with high risk conditions, from developing serious illness.

We continue to strongly recommend that sick students, faculty and staff call their health care providers for guidance. Students may also call the Center for Health and Wellness – 781-891-2222. We are working very hard to see all sick students. If you are sick and the office is closed, you can call your own health care provider at home or contact University Police and they will assist you in accessing care at the local Urgent Care Center or the hospital if needed.

If you are diagnosed with influenza-like illness, you should go home for care and recovery. Students who are unable to go home should stay in their room by themselves without visitors until they are fever-free for 24 hours, without the use of fever-reducing medication. Students should notify their professors that they are ill and will not be able to attend classes or group meetings. In some cases, students will be too sick to study or do work. If you need food or fluids or any assistance, please contact the Residential Center at 781-891-2148, Student Life at 781-891-2161, Graduate Student Services at 781-891-3404 or University Police at 781-891-2201 (emergency number is 781-891-3131).

Please forward this email to your families so that they can also be kept up to date and encourage them to access the H1N1 website at http://about.bentley.edu/h1n1-information for all of our official Bentley communications. Please note – we also have a “live” feed from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on the website and a link to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health booklet - “Caring for People at Home”.

Thank you for continuing to observe good prevention practices.

Gerri Taylor

E-mail to Community - October 26, 2009

To the Bentley community,

We continue to see more cases of H1N1 influenza on campus. However, we have had NO hospitalizations and all members of our community at this time have recovered or are recovering without antiviral medication. We are grateful to those who have left campus to recover which protects all of us. People have generally been sick with fever, cough, headache, head congestion and body aches for several days. If you are sick and have any severe symptoms (listed below), you should seek medical care immediately.

At this time, there are NO cases of seasonal influenza in Massachusetts, therefore any case of flu-like illness is assumed to be H1N1 influenza. Students, faculty and staff who are told they have a flu-like illness should isolate themselves at home - away from campus until they are without fever and symptoms for 24 hours, without the use of fever-reducing medication. Most people with H1N1 influenza recover on their own without any prescription medication. However, those with high risk underlying medical conditions (www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/highrisk.htm) should seek medical care if exposed to someone with flu or at the first sign of illness and they may be prescribed antiviral medication.

Please note: We are ONLY able to test and confirm a maximum of two samples per week through Bentley’s status as one of the Department of Public Health's designated “sentinel sites.” H1N1 testing is only being done at sentinel sites and for patients who are hospitalized with severe illness. Many other schools likely have cases of H1N1 as well, but since they are not sentinel sites, they will not be testing or confirming cases on their campuses.

Our local emergency rooms are extremely busy at this time and must be reserved for serious illness and true emergencies. At this time, local emergency rooms, walk-in clinics and doctor’s offices are not testing for H1N1 and they are also not treating most people with antiviral medication. Antiviral medication is being reserved for those with high risk underlying medical conditions. If you are sick, you should call your health care provider for advice and evaluation. Students can also go to the Center for Health & Wellness at Bentley or the Urgent Care Center in Waltham when the Bentley Center is closed.

The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) recommends emergency room treatment in the following situations:

When to Seek Emergency Medical Care

Get medical care right away if the sick person at home:

has difficulty breathing or chest pain
has purple or blue discoloration of the lips
is vomiting and unable to keep liquids down
has signs of dehydration such as dizziness when standing, absence of urination, or in infants, a lack of tears when they cry
has seizures (for example, uncontrolled convulsions)
is less responsive than normal or becomes confused

If you are diagnosed with a flu-like illness by anyone off campus, please notify me by email at healthcenter@bentley.edu so we can keep track of cases in our community. I would also ask you once again to please protect our community by staying off campus until you are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication. If you have any questions about this, please call or email me. Residential students diagnosed with a flu-like illness on or off campus are expected to isolate themselves by going home. If off campus isolation is not possible, students should follow the instructions outlined in Dean Shepardson’s email of September 24 located on this site.

Thank you for your cooperation in helping to keep our campus as healthy as possible.

Gerri Taylor

E-mail to Community - October 20, 2009

To the Bentley community,

Over this past weekend, we began to see an increase in the number of students with flu-like symptoms including fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache and fatigue. We expected this to occur and have been fortunate that it did not happen earlier. We have seen many students who think they have “swine flu,” but who have been found to have colds, strep, mono, sinusitis and bronchitis. We urge students, faculty and staff with flu-like symptoms to seek advice and care from their health care providers to determine the true cause of their illness and receive appropriate treatment. If you have any high risk conditions, please consult your health care provider for advice. We ask that all Bentley community members with flu-like illness stay home and away from campus in order to protect the greater community.

Students with flu-like symptoms are urged to:

• Call our Health & Wellness Center at 781-891-2222 or your primary care provider and make an appointment to be evaluated

• Call University Police at 781-891-2201 for assistance after Center for Health & Wellness is closed

• If diagnosed with Influenza-Like Illness – PLEASE GO HOME for care, recovery and isolation and do not attend any classes or group meetings or events

• If your family is far away, Dean Shepardson has asked students to speak with their Resident Director in the Office of Residence Life at 781-891-2148 to discuss alternative arrangements with nearby friends or relatives. Students should have this conversation before they become ill.

• Public Health officials are recommending that sick individuals NOT use public transportation, therefore, flying home is not a recommended option.

We ask every member of the community to continue to practice good prevention techniques:

• Wash or sanitize your hands frequently

• Stay at least 6 feet away from ill individuals

• Do not go to class, work, study groups or any activities with others until you are fully evaluated medically and until you are fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medication

• Clean any common surfaces with disinfectant

• Do not share any cups, utensils, drinks, smoking materials (including any mouthpieces), chapstick or lipstick with others

• Cover your coughs and sneezes with your elbow or sleeve

• If you become ill – please call our office or your health care provider right away for advice

• If you are in any high risk group, please consult your own health care provider for advice on how to prevent yourself from getting the flu and also on what you should do, should you develop flu like symptoms

• If you have flu like symptoms and are improving and then get sick again – you should seek medical care immediately

• Get immunized for seasonal flu at our next on-campus clinic on October 21st (Information is on the Bentley website)

• Please note that the October 27th seasonal flu clinic has been rescheduled for November 10th due to a shortage of vaccine supplies.

• Get immunized for H1N1 influenza in November once our shipment arrives (an email will be sent to the community)

Please consult our website for the most updated information at www.bentley.edu/h1n1-information or send an email to me at healthcenter@bentley.edu with any questions.

Thank you.

Gerri Taylor

E-mail to Community - October 13, 2009

To the Bentley community,

I am writing to update you on the status of influenza on our campus. We have had one confirmed case of H1N1 influenza on campus and that student is recovering. Many students who thought they had the flu were found to have colds, strep, mono or other viruses, which were not flu. We are being very cautious by sending students home (if at all possible to protect the campus), when they have high fevers with coughs or sore throats, not found to be caused by any other illness. Fortunately, these students have ended up NOT having the flu. We are aware that H1N1 influenza has been found at many college campuses and we are therefore monitoring our students diligently to be sure that we identify any cases as early as possible. We hope to fend off an outbreak by continuing our current prevention practices until the H1N1 vaccine is available later this month or early November. If you have further questions, please email us at healthcenter@bentley.edu.

Thank you.

E-mail to Community - October 7, 2009

Dear members of the Bentley community,

As the long weekend of Fall Break approaches, some students may be going home, some staying here and other students, faculty and staff may be traveling. I commend all of you on your attention over the past month to washing your hands, covering your coughs, avoiding the sharing of food, drinks, water bottles or smoking materials, staying away from sick people, seeking medical care and staying home when sick.

When you are NOT at Bentley and are at other colleges, home or traveling, it is important to remember that you may also encounter sick people with fevers or coughs, even in crowds and you need to keep practicing these prevention habits!

Please continue to get enough rest, limit or avoid alcohol and smoking and reduce stress by taking a walk, meditating, being with friends and family or listening to music. Consider getting the seasonal flu vaccine and the H1N1 vaccine. If you are home, you may want to get the vaccine at home or talk with your families and health care providers about this. See our website at www.bentley.edu/health for information on influenza and vaccines.

Please keep the above prevention methods foremost in your minds over the long weekend. If you become sick while away from Bentley, please seek medical care, stay home and do not return to school until you are fever-free for 24 hours (without the use of fever reducing medicine). By following these recommendations, we can keep Bentley as healthy a community as possible.

Thank you so much.

Email to Resident Students - September 24, 2009

Dear Resident Students,

As we settle into the semester, I want to ask you to take a few minutes to reflect on your preparation for a possible outbreak of the H1N1 virus on campus. While Bentley is fortunate to have been spared the outbreaks we have all seen in the media on other campuses, we cannot become complacent about this situation.

We are fortunate to have a very strong community that I believe will support us through any crisis. I urge you to talk with your roommates, families and friends about this situation and your plans. We all need to be “spotters” for each other, whether it is encouraging a friend to seek medical care, helping a friend plan what to do if they get sick, or helping a sick friend or roommate get food or water.

Steps you should be taking now in case you or your roommate(s) become ill.

PLAN—The Center for Disease Control recommends that everyone with an influenza-like illness self isolate. We STRONGLY RECOMMEND going home (without using public transportation) or to a friend's or a relative's home off campus. The University may require that students self isolate if they have influenza-like illness. It is important that you think about this now before you are ill and discuss your plans with your family and roommate(s). If you cannot make appropriate arrangements you should discuss this with your Residence Director as soon as possible.
Students should keep up to date with the latest information regarding H1N1 as it changes quite frequently and, as such, the University's policies and procedures may change accordingly. Students should be aware that certain parts of the population are more vulnerable than others, especially those with underlying medical conditions and women who are pregnant. Students should check with their own health care providers or with our Center for Health and Wellness to determine if they need to take extra precautions. Up to date information is located here.
PREPARE—You might want to consider stocking up on water, juices and other liquids as well as some saltines or other food. You should also think about purchasing a thermometer, tissues, fever reducer and hand sanitizer.
COORDINATE—Some students may not be able to go home and other students may choose to self isolate on campus, even though we strongly recommend that they do not. Students should discuss their pland now with their roommates and coordinate any logistical issues that may arise, including a sick student who may need a friend to bring them food or water, as well as assignments or other academic information.
Students who choose to stay on campus against our recommended advice with an influenza-like illness need to take precautions to prevent others from getting sick. They should wear a mask when others are around or if they are using a common bathroom; they should not go to class or any other event on campus; and they should continue their self-isolation as long as recommended (check the CDC website).
COMMUNICATE—students who do become ill should alert their roommate(s), resident assistant, faculty and the Center for Health and Wellness and let them know what their plans are for self-isolation and what, if any, assistance they may need from the University.

Please be sure to follow all of the recommended steps for remaining healthy and take care of yourselves and each other.

Thank you.

Dean Andrew Shepardson
Bentley University
175 Forest St.
Waltham, MA 02452
Phone 781.891.2222/Fax 781.891.3443

Letter to Bentley Families - August 24, 2009

Dear Parents and Family Members,

Greetings! As you prepare for your son or daughter to come to Bentley, I want to update you on the recent developments regarding pandemic H1N1 influenza (formerly called “swine flu”). At this time, there are no cases at Bentley, but we want you to know what we are doing in preparation.

We are taking every precaution to provide a safe campus environment for all our students and members of the Bentley community. We ask for your help with the following:

• If your son or daughter is sick with influenza-like illness with symptoms including fever of 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Centigrade) or higher and cough or sore throat; headaches, body aches, fatigue, chills, runny nose, vomiting and diarrhea, please consult your health care provider and do NOT send your son or daughter to Bentley on move-in day. Please call the Center for Health and Wellness at 781.891.2222 for instructions on when to come to school.

• We suggest that you make arrangements now for the care of your son or daughter if they should need to be isolated from campus because of being sick with H1N1. As you know, we do not have an inpatient infirmary on campus.

• Please talk with your son or daughter before coming to Bentley and reinforce all prevention measures outlined on the enclosed Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) sheet. Updates will be sent to all students by email as well. Please encourage them to read the updates thoroughly and to forward them to you. Also we recommend that each student arrives on campus with a thermometer and a supply of hand sanitizer.

We have initiated a major prevention campaign to remind students about how they can prevent illness. You can be of particular help in reinforcing these messages!

Thank you very much for your help and support. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email the Center for Health and Wellness at ga_healthcenter@bentley.edu or call 781.891.2222.

Sincerely,

H1N1 Vaccine Q & A - October 13, 2009

This information comes from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's 2009 H1N1 Vaccine: Q and A web page.

When and how much of the 2009 H1N1 vaccine will be available?

Both the flu shot (in the arm) and nasal spray form of 2009 H1N1 vaccines have now been produced and licensed by the Food and Drug Administration. The federal government has purchased a total of 250 million doses of 2009 H1N1 vaccine. 2009 H1N1 vaccine was available starting early October and approximately 40 million doses of licensed vaccine may be available by the end of October. Vaccine availability, however, depends on many factors so these numbers will be frequently updated. The first doses of live attenuated 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine were administered on October 5, 2009. Administration of the 2009 H1N1 flu shot will begin the week of October 12.

Will there be enough 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine for everyone who wants it?

It is expected that there will be enough 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine for anyone who chooses to get vaccinated. The US federal government has procured 250 million doses of 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine. This quantity of vaccine accounts for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) clinical trial data showing that children 6 months to 9 years of age will need two doses and persons 10 and older will need one dose. Limited amounts of 2009 H1N1 vaccine became available in early October, and more will continue to become available over the upcoming weeks.

Will the seasonal flu vaccine also protect against the 2009 H1N1 flu?

The seasonal flu vaccine is not expected to protect against the 2009 H1N1 flu.

Can the seasonal vaccine and the 2009 H1N1 vaccine be given at the same time?

Inactivated 2009 H1N1 vaccine can be administered at the same visit as any other vaccine, including pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine. Live 2009 H1N1 vaccine can be administered at the same visit as any other live or inactivated vaccine EXCEPT seasonal live attenuated influenza vaccine.

Who will be recommended to receive the 2009 H1N1 vaccine?

CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has recommended that certain groups of the population receive the 2009 H1N1 vaccine when it first becomes available. These target groups include pregnant women, people who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age, healthcare and emergency medical services personnel, persons between the ages of 6 months and 24 years old, and people ages of 25 through 64 years of age who are at higher risk for 2009 H1N1 because of chronic health disorders or compromised immune systems.

We do not expect that there will be a shortage of 2009 H1N1 vaccine, but availability and demand can be unpredictable. There is some possibility that initially the vaccine will be available in limited quantities. In this setting, the committee recommended that the following groups receive the vaccine before others: pregnant women, people who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age, health care and emergency medical services personnel with direct patient contact, children 6 months through 4 years of age, and children 5 through 18 years of age who have chronic medical conditions.

The committee recognized the need to assess supply and demand issues at the local level. The committee further recommended that once the demand for vaccine for these target groups has been met at the local level, programs and providers should begin vaccinating everyone from ages 25 through 64 years. Current studies indicate the risk for infection among persons age 65 or older is less than the risk for younger age groups. Therefore, as vaccine supply and demand for vaccine among younger age groups is being met, programs and providers should offer vaccination to people over the age of 65.

Should I get vaccinated against 2009 H1N1 if I have had flu-like illness since the Spring of 2009?

The symptoms of influenza (flu-like illnesses) are similar to those caused by many other viruses. Even when influenza viruses are causing large numbers of people to get sick, other viruses are also causing illnesses. Specific testing, called “RT-PCR test,” is needed in order to tell if an illness is caused by a specific influenza strain or by some other virus. This test is different from rapid flu tests that doctors can do in their offices. Since most people with flu-like illnesses will not be tested with RT-PCR this season, the majority will not know whether they have been infected with 2009 H1N1 flu or a different virus.

Therefore, if you were ill but do not know if you had 2009 H1N1 infection, you should get vaccinated, if your doctor recommends it. So, most people recommended for 2009 H1N1 vaccination should be vaccinated with the 2009 H1N1 vaccine regardless of whether they had a flu-like illness earlier in the year. If you have had 2009 H1N1 flu, as confirmed by an RT-PCR test, you should have some immunity against 2009 H1N1 flu and can choose not to get the 2009 H1N1 vaccine. However, vaccination of a person with some existing immunity to the 2009 H1N1 virus will not be harmful. For more information on flu tests, see Influenza Diagnostic Testing During the 2009-2010 Flu Season.

Any immunity from 2009 H1N1 influenza infection or vaccination will not provide protection against seasonal influenza. All people who want protection from seasonal flu should still get their seasonal influenza vaccine.

Do those that have been previously vaccinated against the 1976 swine influenza need to get vaccinated against the 2009 H1N1 influenza?

The 1976 swine flu virus and the 2009 H1N1 virus are different enough that its unlikely a person vaccinated in 1976 will have full protection from the 2009 H1N1. People vaccinated in 1976 should still be given the 2009 H1N1 vaccine.

Where will the vaccine be available?

Every state is developing a vaccine delivery plan. Vaccine will be available in a combination of settings such as vaccination clinics organized by local health departments, healthcare provider offices, schools, and other private settings, such as pharmacies and workplaces. For more information, see State/Jurisdiction Contact Information for Health Care Providers Interested in Providing H1N1 Vaccine.

Will this vaccine be made differently than the seasonal influenza vaccine?

No. This vaccine will be made using the same processes and facilities that are used to make the currently licensed seasonal influenza vaccines.

Are there other ways to prevent the spread of illness?

Take everyday actions to stay healthy.

Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.*
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
Stay home if you get sick. CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

Follow public health advice regarding school closures, avoiding crowds and other social distancing measures. These measures will continue to be important after a 2009 H1N1 vaccine is available because they can prevent the spread of other viruses that cause respiratory infections.

What about the use of antivirals to treat 2009 H1N1 infection?

CDC has issued interim guidance for the use of antiviral drugs for this season. CDC also has published Questions & Answers related to the use of antiviral drugs for this season.

Will two doses of vaccine be required?

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the use of one dose of 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine for persons 10 years of age and older. This is slightly different from CDC’s recommendations for seasonal influenza vaccination which states that children younger than 9 who are being vaccinated against influenza for the first time need to receive two doses. Infants younger than 6 months of age are too young to get the 2009 H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccines.

What will be the recommended interval between the first and second dose for children 9 years of age and under?

CDC recommends that the two doses of 2009 H1N1 vaccine be separated by 4 weeks. However, if the second dose is separated from the first dose by at least 21 days, the second dose can be considered valid.

Are natural remedies (also referred to as “complementary” or “alternative” medicine) recommended to prevent the 2009 H1N1 flu virus?

The first and most important step to prevent the flu is to get vaccinated. Vaccination stimulates an immune response using a killed or weakened virus that uses the body’s own defense mechanisms to prevent infection. CDC's current recommendations to protect against 2009 H1N1 virus do not include natural remedies as a sole prevention method. If you want to use a natural remedy to reduce symptoms, CDC recommends that you talk to your healthcare provider about options.

Alternative medicine should not be used as a replacement for proven conventional care, or to postpone seeing a doctor about a medical problem. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) provides information at http://health.nih.gov/topic/AlternativeMedicine on specific alternative options, including scientific information, potential side effects, and cautions for each.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) warns consumers to be cautious about products that claim to prevent, treat, or cure 2009 H1N1 influenza, specifically products like pills, air filtration devices, and cleaning agents can kill or eliminate the virus.