Seasonal and H1N1 (Swine) Flu
Updates and Information

North Shore Community College has established a Pandemic Health Response Team and Plan to prepare the college community for any actions needed in the event of a widespread pandemic crisis.

NSCC Health Services is registered with the Department of Public Health as a vaccine provider and anticipates receiving the H1N1 in December. Flu shipments are expected to arrive incrementally and the college remains hopeful that enough vaccine will be delivered to immunize all NSCC college community members that want to be. But initially, the college will need to prioritize its use according to Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines.

When the vaccine arrives, notices will be sent by email and posted on NSCC's website with information about when and where the vaccine will be available. Initial limited supplies will target those considered high priority populations: pregnant women, caregivers of infants less than six months old, Emergency Medical Service personnel and health care workers. As more H1N1 vaccine becomes available, free flu clinics for the college community will be offered at both the Danvers and Lynn campuses.

Note: Flu vaccine eligibility is limited to current NSCC students, faculty and staff only.

H1N1 Flu Symptoms

Common seasonal and H1N1 flu symptoms include the sudden onset of fever greater than 100 degrees, cough, sore throat, body aches, chills, headache and occasionally diarrhea and vomiting. Please note that not everyone sick with the flu will have a fever. The CDC is recommending that people with influenza-like illness remain at home until 24 hours after the resolution of symptoms.

Faculty Reporting of Flu-Related Absences

In an effort to track student absences that are related to H1N1 Flu, NSCC students are being asked to contact their professors for absences due to flu-related illness. In addition, NSCC's Vice President for Academic Affairs requests that faculty notify their division deans if they see a higher than expected rate of absenteeism and/or if any student self-reports influenza-like illness (ILI). The division deans will then forward this information to the Health Services office on their respective campus.

Information posted online in the college's Campus Pipeline is being updated regularly to keep the college community well informed. Important news will be sent to the college community via electronic mail as needed.

For further information, please contact NSCC Health Services at 978-762-4000 x 5535 (Danvers Campus) or 781-593-6722 x 2196 (Lynn Campus) or go to: http://www.northshore.edu/safety/h1n1.html.

Questions or comments to news@northshore.edu.