UPCOMING CLINICS

FLU CLINICS

Student health will be holding an H1N1 flu shot clinic on Monday November 9th, from 5pm to 7pm in the Family Medicine Clinic. Due to the shortage of the vaccines, this clinic is open only for 3rd and 4th year students on Pedi or OB rotations, those doing these rotations over the next 2-3 months, and pregnant students.   Please remember to bring your blue hospital card with you (if you have one) as well as the blue flu card you would have gotten from student health services if you received the seasonal flu vaccine. This is a first come first serve clinic. We understand the importance of this vaccination for all students, so as more supplies come in, we will be notifying you when this occurs and will hold more clinics.

Documentation of receiving the flu vaccine is required for all students or a signed waiver of declination is required if you decide not to receive the vaccine. We will provide a card signed by SHS for documentation. This proof is mandatory prior to the start of your clinical rotations and might also be needed prior to the start of the CHC. Please keep these cards with you on your rotations. If you decide not to have the vaccine, you can stop by student health to sign the waiver and receive your card. If you received a flu vaccine at an outside institution or at a walk in clinic (such as pharmacies) you will need to provide documentation to SHS and you will receive a card to use for your clerkships. If you have the student health plan (Blue Cross\Blue Shield) the flu vaccine is a covered service at no cost.

We do not know when our next supply of seasonal flu vaccine will come in, but we will notify you when this happens.

We will post all seasonal flu and H1N1 information on our SHS website on the medical school home page. You can also go to www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu for more information.

We are still waiting for specific recommendations for the H1N1 vaccine and will be notifying you when this becomes available. Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Massachusetts will provide coverage for the administration of the H1N1 vaccine with no out-of-pocket cost for the member, regardless of plan type or benefit design.

 PREGNANT STUDENTS

 1.Pregnant Medical Students should be urged to get the H1N1 vaccine (which was approved yesterday by the FDA and should be available in 3-4 weeks.)

2.Pregnant Medical Students should be given the option of extending their education and taking a leave of absence during the flu season. However, they may be reluctant to do this since they will also be out on maternity leave.

3.Pregnant Medical Students should not be exposed to the high risk respiratory procedures outlined by the CDC below and in more detail on the CDC website.

4.Pregnant Medical Students should be encouraged to be fitted for the N95 "respirator" masks and should use them if they think there is a possibility of exposure.

5.Pregnant Medical Students, like all pregnant women, should be treated with anti-viral agents if they may have been exposed to H1N1 preferably within 48 hours of exposure. They should also be treated ASAP if they have symptoms of H1N1. Treatment or prophylaxis does not required a confirmed test for H1N1 and there should be no delay awaiting such results.