We are sure that all of you are concerned about the media reports about the H1N1 flu outbreak. We would like to reassure our students that the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the TN Department of Health, and the Student Health Center here at Vanderbilt are working closely together and monitoring this situation carefully.
Any student with a temperature greater than 100.0 and cough or sore throat should call the Student Health Center at 615-322-2427 and make an appointment for evaluation. The CDC and the TN Department of Health have asked that we increase our surveillance for H1N1 flu in such patients. Please be reassured that H1N1 flu DOES respond to the commonly used anti-viral medication Tamiflu.
Currently, the CDC is not placing restrictions on travel and is not recommending routine preventive Tamiflu prescriptions for travelers. Students with questions about other international travel plans should contact their healthcare provider at Student Health via My Health at Vanderbilt or by phone at 615-322-2427. The Student Health Center will be offering the seasonal flu vaccine as soon as it’s delivered, hopefully as early as September. We are also hopeful that we’ll have supplies of H1N1 vaccine by late October, and will update students as we learn more.
Please click here for Q&A’s regarding H1N1 flu. Parents may have other questions that can be answered on H1N1 FAQs by clicking here.
More information and daily updates on the H1N1 flu outbreak can be found at www.cdc.gov.
More information regarding Vanderbilt University and Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s preparedness can be found at http://emergency.vanderbilt.edu/plans/flu/h1n1virus.htm.