November 2, 2009

To: The USC Community

From: Lawrence Neinstein, M.D.
Executive Director, University Park Health Center
Professor of Pediatrics and Medicine, Keck School of Medicine of USC

Re: Limited Supplies of Influenza Vaccines

As you may be aware, there currently are limited supplies of both the seasonal influenza vaccine and the H1N1 influenza vaccine. Health officials in the United States and worldwide expect supplies of these vaccines to increase in coming weeks and months, and we eventually hope to have these vaccines available to anyone who wants them. In the meantime, I am writing to update you on the situation. (Please note that health-care personnel on USC's Health Sciences campus will continue to receive separate communications regarding vaccine availability from the Doctors of USC and USC hospitals.)

(1) Priority Target Groups to Receive Vaccinations
Due to limited supplies of vaccine, upon the recommendation of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, we, the county, and many other health-care institutions are screening those who ask for the vaccine and are making inoculations available only to individuals who fall into one of the priority target groups listed below:

• Pregnant women
• People living with or caring for infants under 6 months of age
• Emergency medical services personnel and health-care workers
• Children and young adults from 6 months through 24 years
• People aged 25 through 64 years with chronic medical conditions

(2) Students
USC University Park Health Center is following the above recommendations to offer vaccines to eligible students who fall under one or more of the priority groups.

• H1N1 Vaccine: Limited availability to priority target group students at the University Park Health Center ($10 cost)
• Seasonal Flu Vaccine: Limited availability to priority target group students at the University Park Health Center ($25 cost)

Students who fall in one or more of the priority target groups may obtain their vaccinations during the following Immunization Clinic hours:

• Mondays and Tuesdays
  8:30 to 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 to 4:30 p.m.
• Wednesdays
  9:30 to 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.
• Thursdays
  1:00 to 4:40 p.m.
• Fridays
  9:30 to 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 to 4:30 p.m.

Students who do not fall under the guidelines for priority vaccinations are likely to be able to receive vaccine in the coming weeks as vaccine production increases. In the meantime, continue to protect yourself against the flu as explained below.

More information: http://www.usc.edu/student-affairs/Health_Center/uphc.H1N1FluUpdate.shtml

(3) Faculty/Staff
Given the current shortage, faculty and staff members who fall into one of the priority target groups are urged to obtain seasonal and/or H1N1 flu vaccine from any available source. The LA County-sponsored events at the University Park campus mentioned below are public and are expected to have long lines.

(4) Other Resources

The LA County Department of Public Health is conducting a number of free influenza vaccination outreach events. These events are open to the general public, and authorities will be screening those who come to these events and targeting only individuals who fall into one of the priority target groups listed above. One such public event is scheduled on the USC University Park campus on November 3 and 4. The event will take place in the Lyon University Center between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. on both days, while supplies last.

This outreach has been advertised publicly outside of USC, and large numbers of people are expected to respond, resulting in long lines.

More information: http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/

(5) How to protect yourself against the flu:

• Wash your hands with soap and water often, especially after you cough or sneeze - or use an alcohol based hand sanitizer.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, and discard the tissue in the trash.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth, as germs can spread easily that way.
• Avoid contact with those who are sick, as flu mainly spreads through coughing and sneezing of those who are infected
• If you're feeling sick, stay home from school or work to keep others from getting infected.

September 21, 2009

In a continuing effort to keep the Trojan Family informed about the H1N1 virus, for the next two to three weeks, the USC Division of Student Affairs and Student Health Services will run two alternating pieces in the Daily Trojan:

• A patient-education letter from Lawrence Neinstein, executive director of the University Park Health Center (view as PDF file), and
• A general "tips" sheet about how to identify and respond to the flu (view as PDF file).

Additionally, the University Park Health Center Web site now includes an influenza news page with questions and answers about the flu, a list of local pharmacies, and other helpful information and links.

September 4, 2009

The flu season has already begun to make its impact felt around the world and at college campuses across the country - and USC is no exception. Staff at the University Park Health Center are seeing an increasing number of new respiratory infections among the student population. The good news is that the cases are relatively mild. However, individuals with special health conditions may be more affected.

The health center's experienced emergency team - which has worked effectively with previous public health issues, including last year's norovirus outbreak - is meeting regularly to assess the situation.

All members of the USC community are asked to take the following precautions to help avoid contact and transmission of this virus:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water. This removes germs from your skin and helps prevent diseases from spreading. Use sanitizing gels when soap and water are not available.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth, as these are pathways for the spread of germs.
• Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze, and put your used tissue in a wastebasket. Afterwards, wash your hands.
• Most healthy individuals with the flu do NOT need to see a health-care provider. However, contact your health-care provider if you are at higher risk for complications from flu.

August 20, 2009

The pandemic H1N1 flu virus - also known as swine flu and formally called "novel H1N1 pandemic influenza" in the medical community - is expected to make the 2009-2010 flu season more intense than usual, both here in the United States and around the world.

Accordingly, the University of Southern California has extended its normal emergency preparedness procedures in response to the H1N1 pandemic. Our emergency response teams receive regular input from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, and meet regularly to assess the current situation.

Novel H1N1 pandemic flu is widespread throughout the world. Fortunately, the vast majority of cases are mild and, as we enter the flu season, the H1N1 virus appears no more virulent or severe than most seasonal flu. It does seem to be more frequent in children and young adults because those who are younger than 50 years of age have not yet had contact with a similar type of virus.

Because of the currently mild nature of this flu, classes and other activities at USC will open as scheduled in the fall semester. Our emergency response teams will continually monitor the campus situation, working with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health team, and the university will respond quickly to any changes in the nature of the flu or its virulence.

For an August 18 letter (PDF) to students and faculty about USC's treatment and response recommendations, as well as information about the availability of medication and vaccines, click here.

For an August 13 news announcement about how USC is bracing for a tough flu season, click here.

For more information about the flu, visit the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health Web site at http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/acd/Diseases/Swine.htm.