H1N1 Update: Oct. 27, 2009

University Park, Pa. -- University Health Services (UHS) clinical staff saw more than 300 students with influenza-like illness (ILI) during the week ending Oct. 24. Over 1,700 patients have been seen for ILI since the beginning of the fall semester on the University Park campus.

UHS has received an additional 1,000 doses of the H1N1 nasal spray vaccine for students 24 years of age or younger. Appointments are available for students to receive the vaccine at UHS on Friday, Oct. 30. Appointments must be scheduled online through the UHS Web site at http://www.sa.psu.edu/uhs/basics/online_access.cfm online. H1N1 vaccinations are free of charge.

The H1N1 nasal spray is not appropriate for all students. Information about who should consider nasal spray is available on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Web site at http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/nasalspray.htm.

Three seasonal flu clinics for Penn State students on the University Park campus remain. Clinics will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Nov. 9, and from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Nov. 11, in the HUB-Robeson Center's Alumni Hall and From 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 10, in Heritage Hall at the HUB.

Vaccination against both seasonal and H1N1 influenza is recommended for college students. It is possible to contract both the seasonal flu and H1N1 flu since exposure to one does not give immunity to the other. The CDC Web site provides information that can help students make informed decisions about vaccination at http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/keyfacts.htm and http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/public/vaccination_qa_pub.htm online.