A: Student Health Services is conducting clinics as follows:
9:30 a.m. - 4 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 13 in Rangos 1 (only for students who live in on-campus housing)
9:30 a.m. - 4 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 15 in Rangos 1 (for all students, faculty and staff)
A Carnegie Mellon ID is required.
Q: Can all students, faculty and staff get the vaccine now?
A: Student Health Services has initially received the H1N1 vaccine in a nasal spray form called Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine (LAIV) and that form is only recommended for healthy persons between the ages of 2 and 49.
It is NOT recommended for children 2 years of age or younger; pregnant women; people 50 years of age and older; people with underlying medical conditions, including heart or lung disease, asthma, diabetes and weaknesses of the immune system; children or adolescents receiving aspirin therapy; people who have had Guillain-Barré syndrome; and people who have an allergy to chicken eggs or to any component of the vaccine.
Healthy students who live in on-campus housing are being given priority on Tuesday, Oct. 13 because individuals living in residence halls and other group housing are more likely to contract the illness.
Q: Should I get the vaccine?
A: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says the nasal spray vaccine is safe and recommends the vaccine for all healthy persons between the ages of 2 and 49. All other individuals, especially those with underlying medical illnesses, such as asthma, diabetes and weaknesses of the immune system, and pregnant women, are encouraged to receive the injectable form of the vaccine. As Student Health Services receives more shipments of the vaccine in both nasal spray and injectable form, additional clinics will be held.
Q: What's more effective the nasal mist or the injection form of the vaccine?
A: Each form is equally effective. Currently only the nasal mist is available. The university has ordered both and will provide both as they become available.
Q: Will there be enough vaccine for everyone?
A: Yes. The CDC has reported that there will be enough vaccine for everyone. Please be patient. As Student Health Services receives more vaccine, it will be distributed to the campus community through additional clinics.
Q: Is there a fee to receive the H1N1 vaccine?
A: The H1N1 vaccine will be given free of charge.
Q: Are there side effects to the nasal spray vaccine?
A: Yes. In children, side effects can include, runny nose, headache, wheezing, vomiting, muscle aches and fever.
In adults, side effects can include runny nose, headache, sore throat and cough. Fever is not a common side effect in adults receiving the nasal spray flu vaccine.
Q: Are there side effects to the injectable vaccine?
A. Yes. The vaccine has some side effects. The reactions are generally mild and resolved after 72 hours. Reported adverse events or side effects occurred at the injection site, and include the following:
Tenderness
Pain
Redness
Hardening of skin
Swelling
Bruising
Low-grade fever
Q: Does the vaccine prevent you from getting the H1N1 flu?
A: While the vaccine does not totally prevent you from getting the H1N1 flu, it does greatly reduce the risk of you contracting the illness and reduces the severity of the illness should you become sick. The CDC recommends that all individuals receive the H1N1 vaccine.
Q: What's the status of the H1N1 flu on campus?
A: The number of new cases of the H1N1 flu on campus remains low and the severity of the illness remains mild to moderate for most. For up-to-date information on our influenza screening services for students, please check the Student Health Services Web site at http://www.studentaffairs.cmu.edu/HealthServices
Q: Will the seasonal flu vaccine also protect against the H1N1 flu?
A: No. The seasonal flu vaccine is not expected to protect against the H1N1 flu. Likewise, the H1N1 vaccine is not expected to protect against the seasonal flu.
Q: Will there be more seasonal flu vaccine clinics?
A: Yes. While supplies last the seasonal flu vaccine also will be available during the H1N1 clinics
Q: Can I get the seasonal flu vaccine and the H1N1 vaccine at the same time?
A: Yes. The seasonal flu vaccine also will be available during the H1N1 clinics while supplies last.
Q: Is there a charge for the seasonal flu vaccine?
A: Human Resources is covering the cost of the vaccine for faculty and staff. There also is no charge for students covered under the CMU/Highmark insurance plan. If you are a student not covered by the CMU/Highmark insurance plan, or you are a spouse of a student or employee, there is a $15 charge for the vaccine. We can only accept checks or money orders for vaccines given outside of the Student Health Services office. We are not able to accept cash.
Q: Should I get the vaccine, if I THINK I had the swine flu earlier this year?
A: If you were ill but do not know if you had the H1N1 infection, you should get vaccinated. Most people should be vaccinated with the H1N1 vaccine regardless of whether they had a flu-like illness earlier in the year. If you had the H1N1 flu, as confirmed by an RT-PCR test, you should have some immunity against the H1N1 flu and can choose not to get the H1N1 vaccine. However, vaccination of a person with some existing immunity to the H1N1 virus will not be harmful.
Q: How many doses of the H1N1 vaccine are required?
A: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the use of one dose of the 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 H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccines.
Q: Are there other ways to prevent the spread of illness, in addition to the vaccine?
A: Yes. 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. If you don't have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your elbow.
* 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. The CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.
