The GVSU Campus Health Center will offer the H1N1 vaccine likely by the end of October. Patty Feenstra, registered nurse at the center, said this first wave of vaccines will only be given to certain priority groups, as detailed below:
• pregnant women;
• caregivers and those who live in
households with children younger that 6 months of age;
• people 6
months through 24 years old;
• people 25-64 who have health
conditions associated with a greater risk of medical complications
from influenza.
Grand Valley will cover the cost associated with the vaccines,
making it free for students and faculty and staff members and their
dependents (if dependents meet priority categories). Dates and times
of when the vaccines will be given will be announced later. For
updated information, visit Grand Valley’s emergency Web site at www.gvsu.edu/emergency, or
click on the “H1N1 information” banner ad on the homepage.
For the H1N1 vaccines: one shot is required for people ages 10
and up; two shots are required for children under 9.
For faculty and staff members with GVSU health plans, providers
will cover the administrative costs associated with the H1N1 vaccines.
People enrolled in Priority Health or Grand Valley Health Plans should
contact their primary care physician to determine when and where the
vaccines are available.
Faculty and staff members enrolled in the GVSU Base and Enhanced
Plans can receive the vaccine at any public health clinic, physician's
office or retail pharmacy, as supplies become available.
The university has taken other preventative measures, like
installing Purell hand cleansers in high-traffic areas, holding H1N1
awareness meetings in living centers, and distributing informational
cards and posters. Feenstra also added that the Campus Health Center
is out of the seasonal flu vaccines.
For more information on the H1N1 vaccines, contact the Campus
Health Center at x12435 or view its Web site at www.gvsu.edu/campushealth.
