The clinics are a collaboration among federal, state, county and HSU authorities and strict eligibility guidelines will be enforced. Recipients must be current HSU students, staff and faculty aged 24 or younger on the day they are vaccinated. They must produce both a current HSU identification card and a government-issued photo I.D. or driver’s license with date of birth. Students 17 and under must also present a consent form signed by a parent or guardian. The form can be downloaded here (PDF).
The following groups are not eligible: spouses, significant others, children, friends and colleagues who are not current HSU students, staff, or faculty aged 24 or younger; alumni, retired and emeritus HSU employees; individuals who have a severe allergy to chicken eggs, had a severe reaction to a past influenza vaccination or developed Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) within six weeks of a prior influenza vaccination.
Those who do not meet these eligibility criteria are advised to contact their health care practitioners to discuss H1N1 vaccination. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta anticipates that eventually there will be enough vaccine distributed for everyone who wishes to be vaccinated, but not everyone will be able to receive it on campus. As supplies become available in coming months, vaccine will be distributed following Public Health guidelines.
Eligible individuals who have recently had the flu may receive the vaccination unless they have a definitive lab test confirming H1N1 flu.
The H1N1 vaccine has been evaluated by many agencies and experts, and has been deemed extremely safe. More information about flu vaccine safety, links to key Web sites and answers to frequently-asked H1N1 vaccination questions are at www.humboldt.edu/flu.
Dr. Rebecca Stauffer, director of HSU Student Health and Counseling, said that about 10 days after vaccination, the body begins to produce antibodies providing protection from the H1N1 virus. Accordingly, early vaccination is recommended. “If you are eligible for vaccination, please take advantage of one of the upcoming free vaccination events,” Stauffer said.