December 7, 2009
Purdue expands list of those eligible for H1N1 vaccine
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue University has expanded the list of those who may now receive the H1N1 vaccine to include individuals traveling abroad to infected countries as determined by the World Health Organization.Others remaining eligible for the vaccine include members of the Purdue campus under age 25 as well as those who fall into other high-priority categories. Those eligible include students, faculty, staff, retirees and their spouses/same-sex domestic partners who meet the criteria.
Last Friday, Purdue administered 1,640 doses of H1N1 vaccine. Previously, the Purdue Student Health Center administered 1,500 doses.
Purdue has access to up to 7,000 doses. Slightly more than 700 individuals have made appointments to receive the vaccine at the immunization clinic from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday (Dec. 9) at the Recreational Sports Center. These individuals will receive first priority, but others will be accommodated as time allows.
"This is a great opportunity to receive the vaccine cost free with little or no waiting,” said James Westman, director of the health center. "We want students and others eligible to receive the vaccine to remain healthy over the holidays, both for their own benefit and to prevent the possibility of them spreading the flu to family and loved ones."
Updates on clinics will be posted at Purdue's H1N1 Web site (https://www.purdue.edu/fluinfo) and the PUSH Web site (https://www.purdue.edu/push).
Eligible individuals can make an appointment for themselves or their spouses/same-sex partner at https://www.purdue.edu/worklife. There is no charge for students. Purdue identification cards will be needed, and employees also will need to show their Purdue-sponsored insurance card to avoid a $12 administration fee.
In addition to those under the age of 25, others eligible to receive the vaccine (via injection, not the nasal spray) include the following:
* Pregnant women.
* Caregivers for children younger than 6 months.
* University health-care and emergency medical personnel.
* Individuals under age 65 with underlying health conditions that put them at risk for complications of flu-related illness.
Individuals considered to be at risk are those who have: cancer, blood disorders, obesity, chronic lung disease (asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, etc.), diabetes, heart disease, kidney or liver disorders, neurological or neuromuscular disorders, or otherwise weakened immune systems.
Call the Purdue University Student Health Center at 765-494-1724 with questions. A limited number of H1N1 immunizations also will be available at the health center from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays, but individuals are encouraged to sign up for an appointment at one of the clinics to avoid waiting, Westman said.
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
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