Sept. 18, 2009
As we approach the 2009-2010 academic year, Dartmouth College medical officials and administrators have been monitoring the world-wide situation concerning the spread of the H1N1 influenza infection. It now appears clear that there will be a significant number of cases of H1N1 this fall and winter in the United States, and College officials have been meeting to formulate plans to minimize the complications and problems that a large influenza outbreak would produce on our campus.
Free vaccination clinics for the regular seasonal flu will be held in September and October. Faculty and Staff can sign up for an appointment now. We anticipate that the novel H1N1 influenza vaccine, which would be given in addition to the seasonal flu vaccine, will be available in October or November. We will provide further information about free vaccination clinics on campus for students, faculty, and staff when it becomes available. Employees with chronic medical conditions may be eligible to receive the H1N1 vaccine earlier by contacting their healthcare provider
Following advice from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the State of New Hampshire's Division of Public Health Services suggesting that the H1N1 influenza this year will be widespread but probably will produce only mild illness, our essential approach will focus on the following:
More detailed information on Dartmouth's preparation for H1N1 influenza can be found on Dartmouth's Emergency Preparedness website. We encourage you to become familiar with the materials and information available, and to check back for future updates to the site as the College continues to develop its plans and response.
Please note that in the event the expected H1N1 outbreak becomes more serious, Dartmouth is prepared to implement a variety of additional measures, including the establishment of a temporary ward to isolate and medically care for students developing more serious symptoms. Faculty and staff are also expected to monitor their health and to follow the regular procedures for taking time off due to illness.
The expected outbreak will likely require Dartmouth, and indeed the nation, to react quickly to new information and conditions. We plan to communicate regularly and frequently with you about the outbreak, and we look forward to working together to address this challenge.
John H. Turco, M.D.
Director of Health Services
Traci Knoblauch Nordberg, JD
Chief Human Resources Officer
*Faculty and staff can now update their emergency contact information through Dartmouth's online directory (click "login to maintain my information" on the right, then click the update emergency contact information button). Personal information will NOT be displayed on the web, but is stored in the HR system in the event we need to reach a designated contact in an emergency. This is separate from the DartAlert system which can be found at http://www.dartmouth.edu/~prepare/. This site records the number we'd use to notify YOU by phone or text in case of a campus emergency.*
