As many of you may know from recent media reports, there is an international shortage of flu vaccine for the 2004 -05 Influenza Season. Due to the shortage, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention has issued the following recommendations:

Priority will be given to those who are considered high risk:

All children aged 6-23 months;

Adults aged 65 years and older;

Persons aged 2-64 years with underlying chronic medical conditions;

All women who will be pregnant during the influenza season;

Residents of nursing homes and long-term care facilities;

Children aged 6 months-18 years on chronic aspirin therapy;

Health-care workers involved in direct patient care; and

Out-of-home caregivers and household contacts of children aged <6 months.

Those who are not included in one of the groups described will not be eligible for the vaccination.

Based on these recommendations, the Colgate Student Health Center will NOT be holding flu clinics for faculty, staff, retirees, spouses or students. People who are considered high risk and are eligible for an immunization should contact their physician, the student health center, and keep posted to media updates for availability of the vaccine.

We encourage the community to stay healthy and practice good health habits as follows (from www.cdc.gov/flu):

•Avoid close contact - Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too.

•Stay home when you are sick - If possible, stay home from work, school, and errands when you are sick. You will help prevent others from catching your illness.

•Cover your mouth and nose - Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick.

•Clean your hands - Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs.

•Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth and wash your hands if you do touch those areas -Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.

If you have any further questions, please contact the Student Health Center at x7750.

From the staff in Student Health Services and Human Resources