November 4, 2009: Message from Dr. Susan Kitei, director of the Lehigh University Health and Wellness Center, to all faculty and staff

Dear Faculty and Staff:

The following communication, which details distribution of the H1N1 vaccine, was sent to all undergraduate and graduate students earlier. Because we did not receive as many doses as we originally requested, we are limiting distribution to only students at this time because most fall into one of the primary high-risk categories, and the illness has already been prevalent in our student population.

Should student demand for this vaccine be less than anticipated, or if we receive additional supplies, the Lehigh University Health and Wellness Center will certainly provide whatever H1N1 vaccines are available to faculty and staff.

We will keep you informed if additional doses become available.

All members of the campus community can receive the seasonal flu vaccine at the flu clinics, which will be held between 10 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 10 and 11 in the Lamberton Hall Great Room. The cost for the seasonal flu vaccines will be $30.

Thanks for your understanding.

Sincerely,

Dr. Susan Kitei
Director
Lehigh University Health and Wellness Center

Dear Student:

Earlier this semester, we indicated that we would keep you apprised of any developments related to the H1N1 flu. At this time, the Lehigh University Health and Wellness Center will be ready to begin immunizing Lehigh students next week.

The H1N1 flu vaccine shots will be available to students only, free of charge, from 10:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. in Lamberton Hall's Great Room on Tuesday, November 10 and Wednesday, November 11.

Next week's H1N1 swine flu clinics will be limited to students in the following high priority groups: 1) all Lehigh students through age 24 years; 2) students aged 25 and over with underlying conditions (http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/highrisk.htm) associated with higher risk of complication; 3) healthcare and emergency workers; 4) pregnant women; and 5) household contacts and caregivers for children younger than six months of age.

Students who plan on receiving the H1N1 vaccine next week should go to http://www.lehigh.edu/health, where they can access both the VIS (vaccine info sheet) for their review, and a consent form they can print out and complete in advance to help make the immunization process go more efficiently. A Lehigh I.D., as well as another form of identification that specifies date of birth, must be presented at the time the vaccine will be administered.

To view a list of Frequently Asked Questions about the H1N1 vaccine or to pose a question of your own about the vaccine, please visit our blog at https://sites.google.com/a/lehigh.edu/h1n1-flu-faq-blog/.

Those who want to receive both the seasonal and the free H1N1 swine flu vaccines will be able to do so during the H1N1 swine flu clinic hours. We have extended the seasonal flu vaccine hours for your convenience. Both vaccines will be available in the Lamberton Great Room. The cost for the seasonal flu vaccines will be $30.

If, in the meantime, you experience flu-like symptoms, please visit I think I have the H1N1 (Swine) Flu? at http://www.lehigh.edu/health/fluinfo.shtml for more information, or contact the Lehigh University Health and Wellness Center at (610) 758-3870.

Sincerely,

Dr. Susan Kitei
Director
Lehigh University Health and Wellness Center