H1N1 vaccine available in Wellness Center
Mary Slebodnik, Transcript Reporter
Issue date: 11/19/09 Section: News
Some students concerned about picking up a virus with their groceries at the Thomson store signed a petition two weeks ago to move H1N1 patient isolation out of Thomson Hall.
Sophomore Amer Dadabhoy was the first to sign the petition. He said he agreed with its statement that housing H1N1 patients on Thomson's ground floor leaves Thomson residents, store customers and staff more likely to contract the virus.
"It is unhealthy for the store clerks in Thompson to be working the number of hours which they do in an area so close to the [isolation] zone," he said.
Marsha Tilden, director of Student Health Services, said students and staff are not at high risk of contracting the virus because the health center has taken precautions like posting warning signs within six feet of the isolation zone. Students cannot catch the virus if they stay at least six feet away from it. She said the only reason Thomson residents go to the ground floor is to do laundry, and they have been advised to use laundry rooms in Bashford and Welch.
Tilden also said even if students come within six feet of the isolation area, they face a low risk of getting sick because the virus is behind the doors and walls of the isolation rooms. She said the campus deals with forms of influenza every year, and students should not be overly alarmed.
"The media has really hyped this up," she said. "We're all responding differently than we would normally."
Of the more than 90 students treated for H1N1 at the Wellness Center, one-fifth of them have been unable to recuperate at home or self isolate on campus. For that fifth of H1N1 patients, recuperating in Thomson isolation is still voluntary. However, if they decide to stay in their own rooms instead of going into isolation, they must obtain permission to do so from all of their roommates.
Tilden said health center staff members visit students in isolation twice a day, and when the health center is closed, students can call Residential Life or Public Safety for assistance. She said sharing the community bathroom on the first floor and arranging for friends to bring food are downsides to isolation, but that overall, using Thomson for isolation is the best option for students, sick and well.
"Any place we pick isn't going to be ideal," she said. "We're doing the best we can do."
Wendy Piper, director of Residential Life, said the university chose to use the ground floor of Thomson for the isolation zone because residential life has used those rooms in the past to temporarily accommodate students while all other housing on campus was full. She said the empty fraternity houses could not be used to isolate patients as the petition suggested because the houses are in disrepair.
"There's no furniture," she said. "They're just not in a state for students to live in right now. I feel fortunate that we have [Thomson]. It has helped us keep a lid on the virus and keep it from spreading."
Students can get vaccinations for H1N1 for $5 and seasonal flu for $20 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. today at the Student Health Center. No appointments are needed.
Sophomore Amer Dadabhoy was the first to sign the petition. He said he agreed with its statement that housing H1N1 patients on Thomson's ground floor leaves Thomson residents, store customers and staff more likely to contract the virus.
"It is unhealthy for the store clerks in Thompson to be working the number of hours which they do in an area so close to the [isolation] zone," he said.
Marsha Tilden, director of Student Health Services, said students and staff are not at high risk of contracting the virus because the health center has taken precautions like posting warning signs within six feet of the isolation zone. Students cannot catch the virus if they stay at least six feet away from it. She said the only reason Thomson residents go to the ground floor is to do laundry, and they have been advised to use laundry rooms in Bashford and Welch.
Tilden also said even if students come within six feet of the isolation area, they face a low risk of getting sick because the virus is behind the doors and walls of the isolation rooms. She said the campus deals with forms of influenza every year, and students should not be overly alarmed.
"The media has really hyped this up," she said. "We're all responding differently than we would normally."
Of the more than 90 students treated for H1N1 at the Wellness Center, one-fifth of them have been unable to recuperate at home or self isolate on campus. For that fifth of H1N1 patients, recuperating in Thomson isolation is still voluntary. However, if they decide to stay in their own rooms instead of going into isolation, they must obtain permission to do so from all of their roommates.
Tilden said health center staff members visit students in isolation twice a day, and when the health center is closed, students can call Residential Life or Public Safety for assistance. She said sharing the community bathroom on the first floor and arranging for friends to bring food are downsides to isolation, but that overall, using Thomson for isolation is the best option for students, sick and well.
"Any place we pick isn't going to be ideal," she said. "We're doing the best we can do."
Wendy Piper, director of Residential Life, said the university chose to use the ground floor of Thomson for the isolation zone because residential life has used those rooms in the past to temporarily accommodate students while all other housing on campus was full. She said the empty fraternity houses could not be used to isolate patients as the petition suggested because the houses are in disrepair.
"There's no furniture," she said. "They're just not in a state for students to live in right now. I feel fortunate that we have [Thomson]. It has helped us keep a lid on the virus and keep it from spreading."
Students can get vaccinations for H1N1 for $5 and seasonal flu for $20 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. today at the Student Health Center. No appointments are needed.
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posted 1/08/10 @ 2:29 PM EST
H1N1 Flu Vaccine is arriving in increasing amounts, but the amounts are less than expected. Therefore, the vaccines continue to be targeted to priority groups such as health care workers and high-risk individuals. (Continued…)
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