H1N1 flu (swine flu)

Vaccine information

Michigan State University has begun to receive H1N1 vaccine from the Ingham County Health Department, which is responsible for distributing the vaccine to all county health care providers. MSU is receiving the vaccine sporadically and in small shipments.

Students at high risk are eligible now for doses by appointment at the Olin Student Health Center. Clinics for all students will be set up once the vaccine becomes more widely available. Students who believe they are at high risk can visit Olin's Web site to fill out an online form to receive the vaccine. More information on the high-risk groups also is available at http://olin.msu.edu/fluvaccine.php.

As it becomes more available, H1N1 flu vaccine clinics for all students will be scheduled and dates and locations will be posted. A $10 administration fee - about half of what is charged in private clinics - will be charged to MSU students if their insurance carrier does not cover the cost. More fee information can be found at http://olin.msu.edu/fluvaccine.php.

MSU employees who are not health care professionals — as well as students — can see their primary care physician or go to any of the county health department clinics, which also will be distributing the vaccine according to priority groups.

As members of the MSU community, it is important we work together to allow those people most at need for the vaccine to be given first priority. MSU is following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Ingham County Health Department as to who will receive it first; that prioritization is as follows:

First priority:

• Pregnant women
• Family members of infants under 6 months
• Children between ages 6 months to 5 years of age

Second priority:

• Children under age 18 with chronic health conditions
• Then all children between 6 months and age 18

Third priority:

• Young people between 18 to 25 with chronic health conditions
• Then all young adults between ages 18 to 25 and health care providers

Fourth priority:

• Everyone else with a chronic condition that puts them at risk for adverse outcomes from influenza,
• Then, everyone else who chooses to be vaccinated

Chronic conditions that put people at risk for adverse outcomes from influenza include lung disease, heart disease, asthma, immunosuppresion, cancer, etc.

Ingham County Health Department clinics

Another option for students, faculty and staff is to attend one of the Ingham County Health Department mass vaccination clinics. The clinics are for people who live in Ingham County, including students who reside on- or off-campus for part of the year, and who meet the following priority:

• pregnant women,
• household members who live with infants under 6 months old,
• health care and emergency medical personnel who provide direct patient care,
• children ages 6 months through 9 years of age,
• children, adolescents and adults ages 10 through 64 years old who have an underlying medical condition that places them at higher risk for influenza-related complications.*

*These individuals must bring documentation to verify their medical condition. Some examples are:

• a doctor’s note or prescription for the 2009 H1N1 vaccine
• empty pill bottle/inhaler that identifies the patient
• a medical bill or an old prescription

Clinic schedule:

• Nov. 23: 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Leslie High School
• Nov. 30: 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Williamston High School

The cost of the vaccine is free; visit the Ingham. County Health Department’s website at http://hd.ingham.org/influenza-a(h1n1).aspx for more information.

*Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to read PDF documents.