A unique and innovative analysis of how social media can affect the spread of a disease has been designed and implemented by a scientist at Penn State studying attitudes toward the H1N1 vaccine. Marcel Salathe, an assistant professor of biology, studied how users of Twitter -- a popular microblogging and social-networking service -- expressed their sentiments about a new vaccine. He then tracked how the users' attitudes correlated with vaccination rates and how microbloggers with the same negative or positive feelings seemed to influence others in their social circles. The research is considered the first case study in how social media sites affect and reflect disease networks, and the method is expected to be repeated in the study of other diseases. The results will be published in the journal PLoS Computational Biology. (more)
Flu Vaccine clinics for employees and their spouse/partner are being offered at all Penn State campuses. The vaccine is free for all Penn State employees (regardless of benefit-plan enrollment) and free to spouses/partners who are enrolled in the Highmark PPOBlue plan. (more)
All Penn State employees, regardless of job classification or benefit plan enrollment, are eligible to receive a free flu vaccine at one of four clinics being held by Health Matters between Nov. 10 and Dec. 3. The vaccine also is free for spouses and same-sex domestic partners of employees who are enrolled in the employee's Penn State Highmark PPOBlue insurance plan. Spouses / partners not enrolled in the Highmark plan may receive the vaccine at a cost of $26. To register, employees should visit http://ohr.psu.edu/health-matters/flu-vaccinations online. Spouses / partners of employees may call 814-865-3085 to register. (more)
Based in part on last year's H1N1 pandemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has revised flu vaccine recommendations this year to include everyone over the age of 6 months, not just those at high risk for complications. This year's flu vaccine will include the 2009 H1N1 strain as part of the vaccine. Penn State employees and their spouses and partners can register for a seasonal flu vaccine through Health Matters, and a flu vaccination clinic for University Park students will be held in mid-October. Both may be scheduled online. (more)
University Health Services (UHS) strongly encourages all students to get vaccinated against both H1N1 and seasonal flu. Public health officials predict that another wave of H1N1 influenza is likely in the U.S. later this winter or spring. Seasonal flu typically increases at this time as well. (more)
Although the United States is currently seeing a decline in influenza-like illness (ILI), other regions of the world including parts of Europe, Asia and the Caribbean still are seeing widespread illness. Public health officials predict that another wave of H1N1 influenza is likely in the U.S. later this winter or spring. An adequate immune response to the vaccine takes approximately 14 days. Getting vaccinated now will prevent illness from H1N1 should the virus cause further outbreaks. It also is a good time to get vaccinated against seasonal flu -- this is the time of year that seasonal influenza outbreaks occur and students are vulnerable to both H1N1 and seasonal influenza. (more)
University Health Services (UHS) has received 4,000 doses of injectable H1N1 flu vaccine that will be distributed to Penn State students from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 3, and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 4.
Thursday's clinic will be held in 205 Student Health Center on Penn State's University Park campus. Appointments will be available beginning Wednesday, Nov. 25, and must be scheduled online through the UHS Web site at http://www.sa.psu.edu/uhs/basics/online_access.cfm online. Friday's clinic will be held in 129 HUB-Robeson Center. No appointment is necessary for Friday's clinic.
UHS strongly encourages all students to get vaccinated and students involved in THON in particular should make a point of receiving a vaccination. (more)
A clinic will be held in 205 Student Health Center on the University Park campus Friday, Nov. 6, to distribute an additional 1,000 doses of the H1N1 nasal spray vaccine to students 24 years of age and younger. Appointments must be scheduled online through the University Health Services (UHS) Web site at http://www.sa.psu.edu/uhs/basics/online_access.cfm. H1N1 vaccinations are free of charge. (more)
University Health Services (UHS) is partnering with Maxim Health Services to provide seasonal flu (influenza) vaccinations at the HUB-Robeson Center. Vaccinations are walk-in only and the charge is $26, billed to the student's Bursar account. Students must present their Penn State ID at the time of vaccination. Students are encouraged to wear a short-sleeved T-shirt to expedite the vaccination process. (more)
Meningitis, also called spinal meningitis, is an infection of the spinal cord fluid and fluid surrounding the brain. This infection may be caused by a virus or bacteria and is typically diagnosed by doing cultures of the spinal fluid. Although viral and bacterial meningitis may have similar symptoms initially, most patients with viral meningitis have less severe symptoms and recover on their own. Unlike viral meningitis, patients with bacterial meningitis can have severe symptoms, possibly with lifelong consequences. Because early symptoms may be similar, it is important to be checked by a health care provider as soon as possible. (more)
