Ohio University

A vaccine that protects against both the seasonal flu and H1N1 is available. The vaccine comes in both a shot and a nasal spray. The flu shot is an inactivated vaccine that is given through a needle usually in the arm. It is approved for all people over six months old. The nasal spray, sometimes called LAIV, is made with a live weakened vaccine and is approved for people 2-49 years old who are not pregnant. 

Both the flu shot and nasal spray do not cause a person to get the flu. Keep in mind that receiving the vaccination is not a guarantee that you won't still get the flu. Reports indicate that those who receive the vaccine and do become ill will have less severe symptoms.

Students can get the flu vaccine through Campus Care (previously Hudson Health Center) for $25.

The CDC recommends that everyone older than six months old should get the flu vaccine.

There are some people who should consult with a doctor before getting the flu shot.  These include:

•    People who have a severe allergy to chicken eggs
•    People who have had a severe reaction to an influenza vaccination
•    People who developed Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) within six weeks of getting an influenza vaccine
•    Children less than six months of age (influenza vaccine is not approved for this age group)
•    People who have a moderate-to-severe illness with a fever

The 2010-2011 flu vaccine protects against an influenza A H3N2 virus, an influenza B virus and the 2009 H1N1 virus that caused so much illness last season.

Yes. Ohio University is making the vaccine available to students. Students can receive the flu vaccine through Campus Care (previously Hudson Health Center) for $25 beginning in December.

The viruses in the flu shot are inactive, so you cannot get the flu from the flu shot, but minor side effects can occur. Side effects include:

•    Soreness, redness, or swelling where the shot was given
•    Fever (low grade)
•    Aches

The flu vaccine is regularly monitored by the CDC and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).  Hundreds of millions of Americans have received the flu vaccine in the past 50 years, and in most cases side effects are mild.

If you live in areas where people have been identified with having the flu and become ill with influenza-like symptoms, including fever, body aches, runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea, you should stay home and avoid contact with other people.

The CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Your fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.)

Stay away from others as much as possible to keep from making others sick. Staying at home means that you should not leave your home except to seek medical care. This means avoiding normal activities, including work, school, travel, shopping, social events and public gatherings.

•    After blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing
•    Before preparing or eating food
•    After going to the bathroom
•    After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has gone to the bathroom
•    Before and after tending to someone who is sick
•    After handling an animal or animal waste
•    After handling garbage
•    Before and after treating a cut or wound

When washing hands with soap and water:

•    Wet your hands with clean running water and apply soap. Use warm water if it is available.
•    Rub hands together to make a lather and scrub all surfaces.
•    Continue rubbing hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Imagine singing "Happy Birthday" twice through to a friend.
•    Rinse hands well under running water.
•    Dry your hands using a paper towel or air dryer. If possible, use your paper towel to turn off the faucet.

Remember: If soap and water are not available, use alcohol-based gel to clean hands.

When using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer:

•    Use a product that has at least 60 percent alcohol as the active ingredient.
•    Apply product to the palm of one hand.
•    Rub hands together.
•    Rub the product over all surfaces of hands and fingers until hands are dry.

The CDC website includes the following information about measures to take to help avoid infection:

•    Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
•    Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze.
•    Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
•    Avoid kissing or close contact (a distance of six feet or more is recommended at all times) with people who are sick or if you are experiencing flu symptoms.
•    Avoid sharing drinks or food with other people. This includes sharing drinking cups, as is commonly done in some drinking games.

 

Keep away from others as much as possible. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. Put your used tissue in the waste basket. Then, clean your hands and do so every time you cough or sneeze.

Sick students, faculty and staff should stay at home or in their residence until at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever (100 degrees Fahrenheit or 38 degrees Celsius) or signs of a fever (have chills, feel very warm, have a flushed appearance, or are sweating). This should be determined without the use of fever reducing medicine (any medicine that contains ibuprofen or acetaminophen).

Studies have shown that the influenza virus can survive on environmental surfaces and can infect a person for up to two to eight hours after being deposited on the surface. To prevent the spread of influenza virus, it is recommended that tissues and other disposable items used by an infected person be thrown in the trash. Additionally, persons should wash their hands with soap and water after touching used tissues and similar waste. 

To prevent the spread of influenza virus it is important to keep surfaces (especially bedside tables, surfaces in the bathroom, kitchen counters and toys for children) clean by wiping them down with a household disinfectant according to directions on the product label.

On-campus residential students are required and expected to maintain a clean room and take part in the use and care of public areas within their individual residence halls. All public areas are cleaned daily by full time custodial staff, Monday through Friday, with limited services on Saturday and Sunday.

Germs can be spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose or mouth. Droplets from a cough or sneeze of an infected person move through the air. Germs can be spread when a person touches respiratory droplets from another person on a surface like a desk and then touches their own eyes, mouth or nose before washing their hands.

Common places and items that are most likely to be contaminated include:

•    Telephones
•    Remote controls
•    Bathroom sink and counter
•    Light switches
•    Door handles
•    Games and toys
•    Computer keyboards
•    ATM machines
•    Elevator buttons
•    Shopping cart handles