The H1N1 virus is still circulating throughout the state. Public health officials are concerned about a third wave of influenza and the likelihood that the virus will continue to cause illness for several months. Vaccination against the H1N1 virus is safe, effective, and our best defense against the flu. Join us at the following locations and protect yourself against illness:

These are the last planned H1N1 clinics that will be held on campus this academic year, although H1N1 vaccinations still will be made available through UAB Occupational Health & Safety while supplies last. All UAB employees and students are eligible to receive the vaccine. For information on H1N1 flu shots after Feb. 5, call 205-934-2487.

These free clinics are open to all UAB students, faculty, and staff. In order to receive the vaccine at one of the clinics, you will need to provide UAB identification and your BlazerID. We suggest you wear a short sleeve shirt that allows easy access to your upper arm. Stay up to date on flu information by visiting the UAB flu site at www.uab.edu/flu.

Sincerely,

Max L. Richard
Assistant Vice President,
UAB Occupational Health & Safety

National Influenza Vaccination Week is Jan. 10-16. UAB is encouraging all students, faculty and staff who have not done so to get vaccinated against H1N1 influenza. All UAB employees and students are eligible to receive the vaccine.

The H1N1 virus is still circulating throughout the state. Public health officials are concerned about a third wave of influenza and the likelihood that the virus will continue to cause illness for several months. Vaccination against the H1N1 virus is safe, effective, and our best defense against the flu. Join us at the following locations and protect yourself and your family against illness.

These free clinics are open to all UAB students, faculty, and staff. In order to receive the vaccine at one of the clinics, you will need to provide UAB identification and your BlazerID. We suggest you wear a short sleeve shirt that allows easy access to your upper arm. Stay up to date on flu information by visiting the UAB flu site at www.uab.edu/flu.

Sincerely,

Max L. Richard
Assistant Vice President,
UAB Occupational Health & Safety

UAB will conduct its H1N1 (swine) flu vaccination clinics in the Education Building EB 225 on Wednesday, Dec. 2 and at Hill University Center Great Hall on Thursday, Dec. 3. Vaccinations will be given from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days.

The free clinics are for UAB students, faculty and staff only. In order to receive the vaccine at a clinic, you will need to provide UAB identification and your BlazerID. We suggest you wear a short sleeve shirt that allows easy access to your upper arm.

In line with the Center for Disease Control (CDC) immunization guidelines, at these clinics we will administer vaccines to pregnant women, young adults up to 24 years of age, people caring for infants under 6 months of age, people aged 25 to 64 years with underlying medical conditions (e.g. asthma, diabetes), and health care workers and emergency medical responders who are direct care providers. Please be reminded that UAB Medicine employees have access to the H1N1 flu vaccine through UAB Hospital Employee Health.

Stay up to date on flu information by visiting the UAB flu site: www.uab.edu/flu

Sincerely,

Max L. Richard
Assistant Vice President,
UAB Occupational Health & Safety

UAB will conduct its H1N1 (swine) flu vaccination clinic in Hill University Center Great Hall today and tomorrow, Monday and Tuesday Nov. 23-24, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. both days.

The free clinic is for UAB students, faculty and staff only. In order to receive the vaccine at the clinic you will need to provide UAB identification and your BlazerID. We suggest you wear a short sleeve shirt that allows easy access to your upper arm.

In line with the Center for Disease Control (CDC) immunization guidelines, at this clinic we will administer vaccines to pregnant women, young adults up to 24 years of age, people caring for infants under 6 months of age, people aged 25 to 64 years with underlying medical conditions (e.g. asthma, diabetes), and health care workers and emergency medical responders who are direct care providers. Please be reminded that UAB Medicine employees have access to the H1N1 flu vaccine through UAB Hospital Employee Health.

Stay up to date on flu information by visiting the UAB flu site: www.uab.edu/flu

Sincerely,

Max L. Richard
Assistant Vice President,
UAB Occupational Health & Safety

UAB will conduct an H1N1 (swine) flu vaccination clinic for students, faculty and staff, only, Thursday and Friday Nov. 19-20 in the Blazer Hall Residence Life Center. The clinic will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. both days while supplies last.

In line with the Center for Disease Control (CDC) immunization guidelines, at this clinic we will administer vaccines to pregnant women, young adults up to 24 years of age, people caring for infants under 6 months of age, people aged 25 to 64 years with underlying medical conditions (e.g. asthma, diabetes), and health care workers and emergency medical responders who are direct care providers. Please be reminded that UAB Medicine employees have access to the H1N1 flu vaccine through UAB Hospital Employee Health.

In order to receive the vaccine at the clinic this week you must be a UAB student or faculty or staff member, and you will need to provide UAB identification and your BlazerID. We suggest you wear a short sleeve shirt that allows easy access to your upper arm.

Stay up to date on flu information by visiting the UAB flu site: www.uab.edu/flu

Sincerely,

Max L. Richard
Assistant Vice President,
UAB Occupational Health & Safety

County health departments will start administering a limited number of doses of H1N1 influenza vaccine to individuals in targeted high-risk groups beginning Wednesday at locations throughout the state. Statewide the health department has 55,000 doses available at this time.

Vaccine in injectable form will be offered only to pregnant women; children 6 months though 4 years old; parents, siblings and caregivers of children less than 6 months old; children and adolescents 5 through 18 years old who have underlying medical conditions; and health care workers.

“We must target our limited amounts of vaccine to individuals at the highest risk because of the uncertainties in supply we face,” Dr. Donald Williamson, state health officer, said. “We ask for your support and understanding at this time. As more vaccine becomes available, our department and other health care providers will begin vaccinating school children and others outside of these target groups.”

Alabama and the nation are experiencing significant delays in the amount of H1N1 influenza vaccine received. Vaccine supply is short for both private providers and health departments.

The number of vaccine doses sent to each county health department has been allocated based on population. The public can find clinic dates, times and locations at www.adph.org. Information is also available by calling the health department’s toll-free hotline at 877-377-7285 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Jim McVay, Dr. PA
Principle Investigator, Director
Bureau of Health Promotion & Chronic Disease
Alabama Department of Public Health

UAB has been informed by its suppliers and public health officials that due to greatly increased national demand, there has been an extreme delay in delivery of the seasonal flu vaccine.

Because of this shortage, the university is not able to offer seasonal flu immunization to all faculty, staff and students as planned. Therefore, we encourage you to contact your regular health care provider regarding seasonal flu vaccination.

Employees of UAB Hospital, the UAB Health System and the UA Health Services Foundation who are direct health care providers should follow their normal seasonal flu vaccination protocol.

We are still working with our suppliers in regard to delivery of the H1N1 (swine) flu vaccine later this fall, and we will keep you updated.

Please remember to continue to cover your mouth when you sneeze or cough, wash your hands often, and call your doctor and stay home from class or work if you experience flu-like symptoms.

Stay up to date on flu information by visiting the UAB flu site at www.uab.edu/flu.

Sincerely,
Max L. Richard
Assistant Vice President,
UAB Occupational Health & Safety

UAB plans to offer SEASONAL flu immunization free of charge to all faculty, staff and students once the vaccine becomes available, which should be late September.

At that time, we'll communicate with the dates/times and locations of the vaccination stations.

Also, UAB will make the separate H1N1 SWINE flu vaccine available at no charge and in priority order to:

Our prioritization is based on the guidelines set by the Center for Disease Control Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.

The H1N1 vaccine should be available in mid to late October. At that time, we’ll communicate the dates/times and locations of the vaccination stations.

Please remember to continue to cover your mouth when you sneeze or cough, wash your hands often, and call your doctor and stay home from class or work if you experience flu-like symptoms. Current students enrolled in the Student Health Plan have access to the UAB Student Health Service, 934-3580 or 996-6066.

Stay up to date on flu information by visiting the UAB flu site at www.uab.edu/flu.

Sincerely,
Max L. Richard
Assistant Vice President,
UAB Occupational Health & Safety

Subject: UAB Flu Update

As UAB begins its fall semester of classes, we want you to know that we have been at work this summer to monitor the international outbreak of swine (H1N1) flu and put plans in place to reduce its potential impact on campus.

We will be in communication with you throughout the fall, but in the meantime, here are some important things you should know:

• To keep the UAB community up to date, the Department of Occupational Health & Safety (OH&S) has created a Web site dedicated to flu information: http://www.uab.edu/flu.

• If the severity of the pandemic were to increase and UAB were to take any measures in response, the OH&S site would contain that information, we would send additional e-mails to you, and you could find information on the main UAB emergency information page: http://www.uab.edu/emergency

• If you will sign up for the UAB Emergency Notification System, you can get a message sent to your cell phone or pager when urgent information on this or any other emergency situation needs to be communicated quickly. Please fill out the form found on BlazerNET - http://blazernet.uab.edu - on the Student Resources tab in the Registration Tools channel and in the Employee Resources tab in the Policies & Forms channel.  You can also use the form to update the information you have on file.

• We are in close communication with the Jefferson County Department of Health and state and federal health officials to monitor the ongoing situation; they offer this guidance:
  • Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
  • Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
  • Follow public health advice regarding school closures, avoiding crowds and other social distancing measures.

• Faculty, staff and students with flu-like symptoms should call their physician, stay home from work and/or school and limit contact with others. Flu-like symptoms are defined as a temperature of 100° F or greater with severe body aches, cough and/or sore throat in the absence of a known cause other than influenza.

• Current students enrolled in the Student Health Plan have access to the UAB Student Health Service, 934-3580 or 996-6066, 930 20th St. South, Suite 221. It is important to call before visiting the office if you have flu-like symptoms.

Sincerely,
Max L. Richard
Assistant Vice President,
UAB Occupational Health & Safety