H1N1 (Swine) Flu Emergency Preparedness
Letter from President Destler
TO: RIT students, staff and faculty
FROM: Bill Destler, RIT president
SUBJECT: Free H1N1 Flu Vaccination Clinic on Jan. 8
DATE: January 4, 2010
Don’t get sick, get vaccinated! RIT will have an H1N1 flu vaccination clinic on Friday, January 8th for all students, staff and faculty. The clinic will be held in the Gordon Field House from 10 am until 4 pm. Everyone must show an RIT identification card in order to receive the vaccination. There is no charge for the vaccine.
Please put your health at the top of your to-do list. We’ve completed half of the academic year, and now have experience with H1N1 (swine) Flu on the RIT campus. We experienced a spike in flu cases in late October and continuing in November. The RIT community responded well and the overall impact was minimal.
Prior to the holiday break, the number of cases of the flu was reduced significantly. But our community still must remain prepared and ready as the 2009-2010 flu season extends into the spring. We can expect another spike in flu cases in the coming weeks, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
I want to remind each of you of the things you should do to be ready for the flu:
- Get a Flu Shot: According to the CDC, a flu shot is the single best way to protect against influenza illness. Consider getting both the seasonal flu vaccine AND the H1N1 Flu vaccine. Again, RIT’s free H1N1 flu vaccination clinic is Jan. 8 in the Gordon Field House.
- Take responsibility for your own health: Use basic flu prevention techniques such as washing your hands and covering your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.
- Stay home if you are ill: This is a matter of personal responsibility, and it is very effective in minimizing the spread of all viruses. Students who develop symptoms that are comparable with influenza should contact their health-care provider or the Student Health Center (585-475-2255, TTY: 585-475-5515). Faculty and staff, contact your health-care provider for advice. Stay at home (or in your room) and away from public gatherings including classes, RIT offices, dining halls, concerts, etc.
- Stay informed: Pay attention to information sent to the RIT community about influenza. Every effort will be made to provide timely communication about developments and any actions the university takes in response to an outbreak.
For more information, visit www.rit.edu/h1n1