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Seasonal Flu Vaccination Information

Students Get Your Flu Shots at Campus Health Service First Come, First-Served!  (While Supplies Last) 

Due to circumstances beyond our control the flu shot is no longer available however we have an abundant supply of the intra nasal seasonal flu vaccine, FluMist.  FluMist is given as a gentle nasal mist.  It's a quick spray in each nostril, one of the places where the flu virus enters the body.  Once administered by your healthcare provider, FluMist helps your body develop proteins called antibodies that help protect you from the flu. Employee Health has arranged for an outside vendor to adminsiter flu shots for employees during flu clinics listed below.

Not everyone will qualify for the seasonal FluMist.  If you answer yes to any of these questions you are not eligible to receive the FluMist.

  • Are you 50 years old or older?
  • Do you have any of the following health problems?
    • Heart Disease
    • Lung Disease
    • Asthma
    • Kidney or Liver Disease
    • Diabetes or Metabolic Disease
    • Anemia or Blood Disorder
  • Do you have a muscle or nerve disorder that can lead to breathing or swallowing problems?
  • Do you have a weakened immune system?
  • Are you an adolescent on long-term aspirin therapy?
  • Are you pregnant?
  • Have you had Guillain-Barré syndrome?

If you are unable to have the FluMist or if you prefer to receive a seasonal flu vaccine please visit the website for Mollen Immunization Clinics  at www.flushotsusa.com for more information on where flu vaccination clinics are being held.

Flu Clinics

Tempe campus:

ASU employees may receive seasonal flu shots from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sept. 28 and from Sept. 30-Oct. 2 at the Tempe Campus Health Service. Hours on Sept. 29 will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Downtown Phoenix campus:

ASU employees may receive seasonal flu vaccines from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 22 at University Center, room 822A. Students will receive vaccinations at the ASU Health Center beginning in mid-October.

Polytechnic campus:

ASU employees may receive seasonal flu vaccines from 8 to 10 a.m. Oct. 6 and 8 at Union Cooley Ballroom A. Students, faculty and staff may get their vaccines from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 6 and 8 at Cooley Ballroom A.

H1N1 Alert (swine flu)

The World Health Organization has declared a stage six pandemic because of the H1N1 virus' global spread. Read more.
ASU health officials have been and will continue to monitor information on the H1N1 virus. The university urges students, faculty and staff to self-monitor their health and contact their healthcare provider if you experience flu symptoms. If students are ill, they should come to any one of the health centers located on their four campuses to be checked.
For more information, please follow the ASU pandemic flu site and Swine Flu FAQs.

ASU Campus Health Service Receives Full 3-year AAAHC Accreditation

The Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) has awarded the ASU Campus Health Service (CHS) a full 3-year accreditation, its highest accreditation status. This accreditation was awarded to the CHS-Tempe, CHS-South, CHS-Student Recreation Complex, CHS-Carson Center, CHS-Student Health Services West Campus, and CHS-Student Health Polytechnic locations. Donna Estabrook, Assistant Director of CHS, who along with Ramona Robles, Administrative Associate at CHS led the efforts of the re-accreditation process stated, "Receiving a 3-year accreditation demonstrates the continuous commitment of all of our staff to serve our students and provide quality healthcare." This comes just 6 months after CHS-Tempe was recognized by the AAAHC as an honorable mention for the AAAHC 2008 Quality Improvement award for its work on asthma care improvement, the only college health center to be recognized by the AAAHC during its 2008 award cycle.

Flu Vaccination

It is time to receive your flu shot and avoid missing classes due to the flu illness.  We recommend receiving your vaccination beginning in early October through December.  Below is the schedule offered for receiving this important vaccination:

  Tempe  Polytechnic  West  Downtown Phoenix 
Flu vaccination options:  Prescheduled or Walk-in appointments at
Campus Health Service 		 Prescheduled or Walk-in appointments at
the Student Health Center 		 Prescheduled or Walk-in appointments at
the Student Health Services 		 Prescheduled or Walk-in appointments at
the Health Center 
To schedule an appointment call: 480-965-3349  480-727-1500  602-543-8019  602-496-0721 

Top 5 Flu Shot Myths

Myth #1
“The flu shot GAVE me the flu.”
Fact:
This is probably the biggest myth surrounding the flu shot. The truth is you cannot get the flu from the vaccine. The injectable vaccine is made of inactivated viruses, so it is impossible to get the flu from the vaccine. The most common side effect is mild soreness or redness at the injection site, headache, low-grade fever, or a runny nose for a day after receiving the vaccine.

Myth #2
“The flu isn't that bad. I get it all the time.”
Fact:
Influenza is directly or indirectly responsible for 114,000 hospitalizations each year and 36,000 deaths in the US alone.

Myth #3
“I had the flu last year, so, I'm immune this year.”
Fact:
Influenza strains are crafty viruses and change every year. They mutate so we can’t recognize them, and they travel worldwide only to move on to new places each year.  Doctors study the worldwide trends in illness and predict which strains will be the most virulent the following year. Those are the developed vaccines that become available each October. Usually there are several strains contained in one vaccine. The likelihood of becoming infected with the same strain of flu twice in a row is remote.

Myth #4
“The flu shot didn't work.  Not a month later, I caught the flu.”
Fact:
The flu shot is very effective—about 70 to 90 percent if you are exposed to the same STRAIN of influenza that is in the vaccine. But there are hundreds of other respiratory illnesses, viruses, bacterial organisms that can mimic flu. The flu shot only protects against the influenza virus   Best defense from other body invaders is simple hygiene. Wash your hands with plain soap and water, rubbing vigorously for 15 seconds, and then rinse well. Common ways of spreading illness is hand- to- eye contact and hand- to- nose or mouth. So keep your hands away from your face.   If you are coughing or sneezing, cover your mouth. (Then wash your hands.)

Myth #5
“The side effects of the flu shot are worse than the flu.”
Fact:
Most people experience little or no side effects, and the influenza vaccine usually produces no increase in systemic side effects or disability in the elderly. Symptoms attributed by patients to a recent influenza vaccine are likely secondary to coincidental illness coupled with heightened somatic awareness following vaccination. If an individual does experience flu-like side effects, the duration is short (usually no longer than 24-48 hours) whereas influenza can hang on for 10 days or more and may leave a person debilitated for a longer time. Moreover, a true case of influenza always leaves open the possibility of chronic complications (such as pneumonia) and even death.

Peanut Product Recall

To keep up with the latest Salmonella outbreak, please visit the FDA web site to look up all products that are recalled and may be contaminated.

ASU Health Service South - Sonora Center

The new Campus Health Service South, located in the Sonora Center on the Tempe campus, provides primary care for ASU students. This includes acute illness, minor injuries, well women's exams, anxiety/depression, STI screening, physical examinations and management of stable chronic health problems. Students who need specialty care will be referred to a specialist and emergency services (other than for minor health problems) are not provided.

Mon - Thur, 9 am to 6 pm. Closed for lunch 12 - 1pm.
480.965.3346

Massage Therapy Now Available at Campus Health Service

Need a way to reduce your stress and promote more relaxation in your life?  Massage therapy is now available at Campus Health Service, available to students, staff and faculty. $20 for 30 min and $35 for 1 hour.  

Call 480.965.3349 to learn more about these services or to book an appointment.

Chiropractic Services Available at Campus Health Service

Campus Health Service (CHS) is pleased to announce the addition of chiropractic services for students, faculty and staff.  Dr. Susan Reed will be seeing patients on Tuesday and Fridays from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Campus Health Center (University and Palm Walk).   

To schedule an appointment please call 480.965.3349  

Info on Methicillin-resistant Staph Aureus (MRSA) at Arizona State University

INTRODUCTION
MRSA INFO
PREVENTION TIPS
FACULTY/STUDENT CLASS INFO
RESIDENCE HALL INFO

INTRO

There has been publicity surrounding a potential case of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection on campus involving a dance studio. The areas affected are being sanitized per ASU protocols and should be open after cleaning is finished and there is no public health threat to our campus. According to Dr. Allan L. Markus, Director of Campus Health Services, there are some very good sources of reliable information both on the ASU Health website www.asu.edu/health and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website http://www.cdc.gov/ but also a great deal of misinformation and concern over an infection that has been around for over 40 years. Last year, there were two or three confirmed cases of MRSA skin infections in a total campus population of nearly 65,000. General testing of the population or asymptomatic individuals is not recommended. In an effort to gain a fuller understanding of MRSA, and to help initiate appropriate precautions, ASU has prepared this information for the campus community to better communicate the risks, prevention methods and steps the University is taking to address the issue of MRSA on campus.

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MRSA Info

There are two general classes of this bacteria:
  • Health-care associated MRSA (this is the type contracted in hospital, nursing and group home settings) and much more resistance to antibiotics and tends to cause more invasive disease.
  • Community-associated MRSA (this is the type contracted without contact with any healthcare facilities and more likely found on our campus). 

MRSA is around because of over-prescribing antibiotics for sore throats, sinus infections, and colds caused by viruses leading to resistance to the normal Staph that lives on all of our skins.

MRSA is transferred from person to person through direct contact with infected wounds, hands and personal items from infected people. It is much less likely to transfer this infection from sinks, toilets etc. Some people carry the infection in the nasal passages, but won’t generate any disease.

Some people more susceptible than others in developing frequent skin infections, such as athletes with direct skin to skin contact (wrestlers for example), and those who get turf burns or do cosmetic shaving, may also be at higher risk because of the damage to the superficial skin.

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PREVENTING SPREAD OF MRSA AT ASU

The most effective policies and procedures to prevent the spread of any contagious disease, including MRSA is to focus on personal health, good hygiene and proper enforcement. It is therefore recommended that every person on campus should:

  • Cover skin abrasions or cuts with a clean, dry bandage until healed.
  • Wash your hands frequently with soap and warm water for 20 seconds (Row, Row, Row Your Boat 3 times) OR use alcohol-based hand sanitizers.
  • Do not share personal items such as towels, razors, etc.
  • All students, faculty and staff need to avoid antibiotics for sore throats, sinus infections and colds that are caused by colds/viruses. Overuse of antibiotics builds up the personal resistance to antibiotics by the bacteria on your body.
  • Shower before and after sports competitions/events that involve potential skin to skin contact.
  • Seek the assistance and expertise of Campus Health Services if you have any skin lesions to determine if treatment is needed.


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FACULTY/STUDENT CLASS INFO

  • Students who have skin infections that are closed or well covered pose no health risk to other students in class and should be able to attend classes.
  • Students with open and draining wounds with blood or pus should be directed to go to any of the four health service locations to receive treatment.
  • Rooms do not need disinfecting treatment unless there was an open and draining wound with blood or pus. If this occurs, please call Environmental Health and Safety at the Campus to arrange for cleanup. 

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RESIDENCE HALL INFO

  • There is very little risk from closed and well-covered skin infections, roommates should just follow good basic hygiene techniques as above.
  • If a student has an infected open wound the residence hall staff will, when possible, move the student to a single room till the wound heals or can be adequately covered. If not possible, the students will observe strict infection control procedures with frequent washing, no sharing toiletry, razors, clothing, and towels.

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Campus Health Service Receives Recognition for Quality Improvement Study

The AAAHC Institute for Quality Improvement announced last week that ASU Campus Health Service (CHS) has been awarded an Honorable Mention for their Asthma Review quality improvement study. 

http://www.aaahc.org/eweb/dynamicpage.aspx?site=aaahc_site&webcode=iqi_award

The Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care, Inc. (AAAHC) is a national leader in accrediting over 3,800 organizations in a wide variety of ambulatory health care settings. The AAAHC’s Institute for Quality Improvement awards the activities of ambulatory health care providers who demonstrate excellence in identifying areas for quality improvement and designing interventions that have led to positive outcomes.

To be considered for this award, a facility would have completed a quality improvement study with resulting interventions that led to positive outcomes. A study of this magnitude spanned over a two year period and required a strong team approach between the CHS physicians, nurse practitioners and nursing staff. This was an educational experience for both the nursing and provider teams and raised an awareness of the disease status and control. Ultimately the patient is the recipient of the caregiver’s awareness which may help the patient manage their asthma in a more effective manner. This leads to a healthier student population and their academic success.

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Student Presents Work On Meningitis Vaccination Program

Arizona State University undergraduate Rebecca Raub was one of just a handful of students to present their work at the 2008 American College Health Association's annual meeting June 3-7 in Orlando, Fla.

Raub discussed ASU's meningitis vaccination program during a talk entitled, "Collaboration with a Student Group on a Voluntary Meningitis Vaccination Program."
"Her presentation really stimulated interest in what a student group that is committed to campus health could accomplish. Of the 235 faculty presenters at the meeting, Rebecca was one of only 14 students chosen to present their work," says Dr. Allan Markus, Director of the ASU
Campus Health Service and Raub's co-presenter.

The importance of vaccinations in the battle against meningitis was brought to the attention of ASU students last year through the Health and Counseling Student Action Committee. The committee helped to raise awareness of meningitis vaccinations, assisted in the development of forms to track data and increased the percentage of vaccinations given by the ASU Campus Health Service by more than 60 percent. Raub is chair-emeritus of the committee.
"I couldn't be more proud of the success of our meningitis vaccination program this year. All the Health and Counseling Student Action
Committee members and volunteers made a huge impact on our vaccination rate," Raub says.

An article entitled, "Improving Vaccination Rates in States and Universities without Mandatory Vaccination Policies," written by Markus and Raub was published this spring in the national American College Health Association newsletter.
Raub is going into her junior year at Arizona State University in the fall. She is currently majoring in molecular biosciences and will pursue a career in medicine after she graduates.

The incoming president of the Health and Counseling Student Action Committee group, Jelena Peric, also attended the meeting and will coordinate this year's efforts on improving health and counseling care for ASU students.

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