H1N1 Flu

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The H1N1 Influenza Vaccine Has Arrived

Appel Health Services has scheduled the administration of the H1N1 influenza vaccine at Booth Ferris North in the Steinman College Center from Nov. 12 - 20, 2009. Read more >

Plan for Managing H1N1 Flu

This plan has been developed following guidelines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Our protocols incorporate the most recent information concerning the limitations of diagnostic tests and the medical judgment of the College's Director of Health Services Marianne Kelly, M.D. Currently, the CDC recommendations assume that the illness caused by the disease will not become more severe, and the first part of this document follows that assumption.

H1N1 Protocols

Protocols follow the current recommendations of the CDC, which recognizes the limitations of testing to diagnose the virus. Students will be encouraged to "self-isolate" (avoid contact with others) to reduce transmission. Evaluating students who are very ill or who have underlying medical conditions putting them at higher risk for complications of the flu will be a priority.

At the time that one student exhibits influenza-like symptoms, the College will implement the following protocols under the assumption that H1N1 flu could be present in the population.

1. Students who have influenza-like symptoms and no underlying medical conditions will be encouraged to contact Health Services initially by telephone. Health Services has established procedures to handle a high volume of calls, including the installation of an additional phone line. Students who have underlying medical conditions and who develop influenza-like symptoms should visit Health Services.
2. Health Services will make clinical determinations of appropriate testing and treatment for each individual case. At the time that a student reports influenza-like symptoms, the student will be asked to sign a form giving Health Services permission to inform the the College House Prefects and faculty members. The College House Prefects and the Office of the Dean of the College will ensure that the student's parents and the student's roommate are notified of the ill student's condition. Students who contact Health Services by phone and do not require in-person treatment will be asked for permission to communicate with the same parties.
3. Health Services medical professionals will assess the need for further observation at Appel or hospital admission. Additional space has been set aside in Appel for a waiting area, triage area and additional beds in the event thatt circumstances require them.
4. Students evidencing influenza-like symptoms will be encouraged to "self-isolate" (avoid contact with others). When feasible, going home is the preferred mode of isolation. The College recognizes, however, that this option is not feasible for all of its students.
5. Students who are unable to go home will be advised to stay in their room to rest and recover. Following CDC guidelines, such a student will be expected to self-isolate until the student has stopped taking fever-reducing medication and 24 hours have passed without a fever.
6. The College will provide the following support to students remaining on campus and who have been diagnosed and advised to self-isolate:
   • College House Prefects will make regular visits.
   • The Office of the Dean of the College will work with Food Services to assure meal delivery.
   • The Office of the Dean of the College will notify the student's professors of the student's inability to attend class and will coordinate issues relating to examinations and deadlines. 
   • Information Technology Services will assure remote access to online materials.
7. A student at risk of putting other students at risk and not following medical advice will be placed on mandatory health leave by the Dean of the College upon the recommendation of the Director of Health Services.
8. Roommates of self-isolated students will be offered the opportunity to relocate for several days. The College House Prefects will coordinate this process in the College Houses and the Office of the Dean of the College will oversee this process for theme houses. College House staff, including Prefects and House Advisers, will be provided with masks and other recommended supplies to reduce transmission.
9. Healthy roommates electing to remain in the room with a student who has influenza-like symptoms will be given masks and hand sanitizers.
10. Students living in housing not owned by the College will be assisted if they request temporary relocation.
11. Roommates of students with influenza-like symptoms who have pre-existing conditions that create a greater health risk will be strongly advised to relocate. A student who refuses this option will be required to sign a form acknowledging that he or she was advised to relocate and declined.
12. When an ill student has recovered, the healthy roommate will be advised to return to the room. Students will be given instructions and appropriate supplies to clean the room. Supplies will be stored in convenient places throughout the College Houses and theme houses.
13. Faculty members will be encouraged to be flexible about class absences and deadlines, and Health Services and the Dean of the College will notify faculty members of the names of ill students. Health Services does not provide excuse notes but will initiate short-term health leaves for students as needed.

Vaccine Distribution Guidelines

Vaccine for H1N1, when made available, will be administered free of charge in consultation with federal and state guidelines. Because the vaccine will likely be in limited supply, at least initially, our priority for vaccinations is as follows:

1. Direct providers of patient care: Health Services staff, Public Safety staff, Emergency Medical Technicians
2. High-risk students, as defined by medical guidelines
3. Housekeepers, Food Service staff, House Advisers and Prefects
4. Employees who are pregnant, have children under 6 months old or have underlying medical problems that could put them at risk of complications and cannot be vaccinated through their family doctor or other provider
5. All other students, first-come, first-served
6. Employees under 24 years old

The usual seasonal flu vaccine will be administered for $15 and offered first to students and then to faculty and professional staff.

Communication Guidelines

1. Prior to the beginning of the semester, the College will notify its affected constituencies of the College's plans for managing H1N1 and associated issues:
   • Human Resources will communicate with F&M faculty and professional staff.
   • The Dean of the College and Director of Health Services will communicate with parents.
   • The Director of Athletics will communicate with coaches.
   • The Director of Health Services will communicate with students and copy faculty and professional staff.
   • The Provost will meet with new faculty members and with faculty chairs.
   • The Dean of the College will brief the President.
2. The news vehicles The Diplomat, F&M Headlines and Parents E-Newsletter will inform internal and external constituencies of our H1N1 plans. In addition, the Dean of the College will propose a story to the student newspaper The College Reporter, and College Communications will update the Lancaster newspapers of our plans.
3. The H1N1 Web site (fandm.edu/swineflu), developed in April 2009, will continue to serve as the repository for the most up-to-date advice and information. The Vice President for Communications is responsible for this information in consultation with the Director of Health Services and the Dean of the College.
4. When the College is aware of flu symptoms among our students, an electronic communication of this fact will be sent to students, faculty, professional staff and parents. This message will remind constituencies of protocols, hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette and routine cleaning.
5. Subsequent e-mail communications will be sent only in the event of significant changes in the environment. The Web site will serve as the primary vehicle for routine updates.

Considerations for Increased Severity

The CDC has not yet issued comprehensive guidelines for how institutions of higher education should proceed in the event that global, national, or regional assessments indicate that the H1N1 influenza is causing more-severe disease. At this point the CDC recommends that institutions become familiar with basic principles that guide infection control. The agency notes that implementing more-stringent strategies is likely to be more difficult and to have more-disruptive effects than those outlined above.

The College's Crisis Management Team will meet regularly to consider potential strategies to manage a more-severe epidemic.

If the CDC determines that the flu is causing more severe disease, the President of the College will direct the Crisis Management Team to implement a number of strategies.