Flu Shot Clinics

The seasonal flu vaccine clinics have been set. The Center for Disease Control's recommendation is that everyone 6 months of age and older get vaccinated against the flu as soon as the 2010-2011 season vaccine is available.

Wednesday October 13, Flag Room, 1st floor Student Center, 4:30 – 6:30

Friday October 15, CHW tent, Pumpkin Lobotomy, 2:00 – 4:00

Monday October 25, Flag Room, 1st floor Student Center, 4:30 – 6:30

Tuesday November 16, Flag Room, 1st floor Student Center, 4:30 – 6:30

The cost of the flu vaccine is $15.00 for students and $25.00 for faculty and staff. Payment can be made in either check or credit/debit card. Cash payments will not be accepted.

In addition to receiving the flu vaccine, the following strategies continue to be effective in minimizing the spread of illness.

• 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. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread this way.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
• If you are sick with flu–like illness, CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Your fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.)
• While sick, limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them.

In the event that a student needs medical care in the evening or on the weekends, they would need to go the Cheshire Medical Center Emergency Room at 590 Court Street, Keene NH 03431. Transportation by ambulance in an emergency situation or by taxi in a non emergency situation can be accessed through Campus Safety, (603) 358-2228.

Due to the chance of emergency care needed as well as other medical needs that are beyond the scope of service in our clinic, students are strongly encouraged to maintain personal health insurance while they are a student here at Keene State College.

In the event that you need extensive laboratory work conducted through our local hospital and you do have insurance coverage, we are happy to forward that insurance information to the hospital laboratory for billing. However, in the event that your insurance company refuses payment, the cost of the lab work will be your responsibility.

It is always helpful to discuss with your insurance company the scope of their coverage as it pertains to you as a student at The Center for Health and Wellness is an acute care clinic located on the 3rd Keene State College prior to your arrival on campus.

Important Information regarding Mumps

The State of New Hampshire currently requires students to have two doses of MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) vaccine. The first should occur after the first birthday and the second prior to entering elementary school.

The second required dose of MMR has been implemented over the past fifteen years at various stages of an indivudual's life. For most of our current students, the second vaccination probably took place prior to entering seventh grade.

The second vaccination is very critical to college students since in the last year there have been cases of mumps diagnosed in primarily adults age 18-25. The effectiveness of the vaccine offers a 80% immunity after one vaccine and 90% after the second dose.

It is strongly advised that all students check with their primary provider and/or the Center for Health and Wellness to confirm that they have in fact received the second dose.

Mumps is an acute viral infection characterized by non-specific initial symptoms including a loss of appetite, a sense of not feeling well, headache and a fever followed by an acute onset of unilateral or bilateral tenderness and swelling of parotid or salivary glands which are around the jaw, just underneath the ear.

Transmission of the mumps virus occurs by direct contact with respiratory droplets, saliva or contact with contaminated objects in the environment. The incubation period is generally 16-18 days from exposure to onset of symptoms.

Complications of mumps infection can include deafness, inflammation of the testicles, ovaries, or breast, pancreatitis, meningitis/encephalitis and spontaneous abortion.

Students experiencing symptoms suspicious for mumps should contact the Center for Health and Wellness immediately at (603) 358-2450.