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Emergency Guidelines for the Campus Community
H1N1 Influenza
October 29, 2009 E-Mail to Students, Faculty and Staff
This version includes a correction to the vaccination guideline for pregnant students. (10-30-2009)
To: Princeton University students, faculty and staff
From: University Health Services and Environmental Health and Safety
Re: Important H1N1 Flu Vaccine Information
Date: Oct. 29, 2009
We want to inform faculty, staff and students about plans to distribute limited quantities of the H1N1 flu vaccine on campus. Please take a moment to read this e-mail in its entirety, as it contains important information about: who is eligible to receive the vaccine on campus; how the vaccine will be distributed; vaccination resources for faculty and staff; and the order in which students may receive the vaccine from University Health Services (UHS).
The New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services is overseeing distribution of the H1N1 flu vaccine in the state. The University expects to receive its first shipment of the vaccine in a limited quantity next week, with further shipments expected from the state throughout the fall and winter.
The University expects to be able to offer vaccinations to individuals whose primary healthcare provider is UHS: undergraduate and graduate students, as well as dependents of students whose primary healthcare provider is UHS. All students must read the "H1N1 Vaccination Information for Students" listed below for details about how and when they may receive the vaccine on campus.
Because the state will distribute limited doses of the vaccine in staggered shipments, most providers, including the University, will not be able to provide vaccinations to all eligible groups during the same time period. Also, given the limited quantities, we regret that the University is not able to offer the H1N1 vaccine to all members of our community at this time.
In order to be eligible to receive the H1N1 vaccine, providers in New Jersey had to agree to distribute vaccinations according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) health priority guidelines. As doses are received from the state, UHS will contact eligible campus groups directly about when they may receive the vaccine at designated campus locations, in accordance with the CDC's prioritization guidelines.
In addition to students, the University will provide the H1N1 vaccine to two groups of staff who are considered high priority by the CDC: healthcare workers from UHS and emergency responders from the Department of Public Safety who transport sick students to and from McCosh Health Center.
The remainder of faculty and staff may contact their personal physicians or a local health department to determine how and when they may receive the H1N1 vaccine from other providers. The state has approved several doctors' offices, hospitals, local health departments and other groups to distribute the H1N1 vaccine as per the same CDC prioritization guidelines that the University must follow. The University must await more information about state vaccine distribution plans to determine whether it will be able to offer the vaccine to faculty and staff as the vaccine becomes more widely available.
We understand that members of our community may have continued questions about the H1N1 vaccine, and University officials will provide updates about vaccine availability and the immunization schedule via e-mail and on the University's H1N1 web page: http://web.princeton.edu/sites/emergency/swineflu/.
For general information on the CDC's vaccination priority guidelines, visit the CDC website: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/acip.htm.
H1N1 Vaccination Information for Students
Because the timing for receiving vaccine shipments from the state and the number of doses in each shipment is unknown, it is anticipated that it may take several weeks before the H1N1 flu vaccine is available to the entire student population. This is because, as stated above, the University will offer H1N1 vaccinations in staggered distributions to undergraduate and graduate students, as well as dependents of students whose primary healthcare provider is University Health Services.
As limited shipments of the H1N1 vaccine are received from the state, UHS will communicate directly via e-mail with student groups about when they may receive the H1N1 vaccine at designated campus locations. The vaccine will be administered to students per CDC priority guidelines in the following order:
--Pregnant students (or dependents). Women will be required to present documentation from a healthcare provider confirming their pregnancy. Individuals must complete the online H1N1 vaccine registration form (https://sp.princeton.edu/ehs/Vaccine Survey/) to be notified via e-mail about when and where this vaccine will be available.
--Students who are caregivers of babies less than six months old. These students must present the baby's birth certificate as confirmation. Individuals must complete the online H1N1 vaccine registration form (https://sp.princeton.edu/ehs/Vaccine Survey/) to be notified about when and where this vaccine will be available.
--Students 24 years old and younger with pre-existing medical conditions that put them at higher risk for flu complications. High risk medical conditions include asthma, diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease and compromised immune systems. High risk students should have already identified themselves to UHS. Students who have not done so must complete the online H1N1 vaccine registration form (https://sp.princeton.edu/ehs/Vaccine Survey/). Students who have not previously identified themselves also will need to submit documentation to UHS from a healthcare provider in order to be placed on the list of high risk students.
--Students 24 years old and younger. Students who are 24 years old and younger who do not have pre-existing medical conditions.
--Students 25 years old and older with pre-existing medical conditions that put them at higher risk for flu complications. High risk students should have already identified themselves to UHS. Students who have not done so already will need to submit documentation to UHS from a healthcare provider in order to be placed on the list of high risk students.
--Remainder of the student population who do not fall under the above guidelines.
H1N1 Vaccine Costs
The federal government is providing doses of the H1N1 vaccine free of cost; however, there are administrative costs associated with distributing the vaccine.
Any student or eligible student dependent who is on the University's student health plan (SHP) may receive the H1N1 vaccine from the University at no cost. Students or dependents on the student health plan should bring their Aetna Student Health card with them when they come to be vaccinated.
Individuals who are not on the student health plan will be charged a nominal fee of $15 to cover the administrative costs of distributing the vaccine. A receipt may be submitted to private insurance companies for reimbursement. If a student is unable to pay the fee, financial assistance will be available by contacting Jan Runkle at UHS at (609) 258-3555.
For more information, visit the University's H1N1 web page: http://web.princeton.edu/sites/emergency/swineflu/.
CORRECTION: The original version of this letter included a statement about pregnant women requiring a preservative-free form of the vaccine. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that there is no evidence that the preservative is harmful to a pregnant woman or a fetus. However, some manufacturers have produced limited quantities of a preservative-free form of the vaccine for those who would prefer it.
Last update:
30-Oct-2009 9:31 AM
Web page comments or errors: Robin
Izzo.