Student Health Center, Macon Campus

H1N1 Flu Vaccine for Mercer Students

The Student Health Center on the Macon campus has received an initial shipment of the H1N1 vaccine.  The vaccine is a single dose injection.  If you have recently received the seasonal flu shot, there is no waiting period required for you to receive the H1N1 vaccine. 

The vaccine will be available to currently enrolled Mercer students attending the Macon campuses.  All students enrolled in the School of Medicine (with the exception of MPH students) are receiving the vaccine through a separate shipment and should not come to Student Health.

Students must present a current student ID (Bearcard) at the time of they receive their injection.

Students can receive the vaccine  (as long as supplies last) on a first-come, first-served basis at the Student Health Center on the following dates and times:

• Monday, Wednesday, Thursday: 8:30-11:30 a.m.
• Tuesday, Friday: 1-4.30 p.m.

There is no cost for the vaccine.  Students must present a current student ID in order to receive the vaccine. The Student Health Center cannot determine when additional shipments of the vaccine will arrive. 

H1N1 Information

Refer to the Centers for Disease Control for the latest on H1N1 .

For students who exhibit some or all of the symptoms of the flu, the best recommendation is for the student to go home, if possible.  You will avoid contaminating others with germs and avoid spreading a potential virus. 

However, for students who cannot go home, the following guidelines should be followed.  These guidelines are based on recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control.

To avoid further spread of a potential virus, students should call or e-mail the Student Health Center for recommended treatment.  The CDC recommends individuals who are potentially contagious to remain isolated.  SHC staff will answer or return calls and provide treatment recommendations and access to any suggested medications.

Students who are advised to isolate themselves in their rooms or go home, should contact their professors by e-mail as soon as possible to let them know of their status.  The Student Health Center cannot call professors for a student or provide excuses.

The University is not able to provide isolated quarters for students who are seriously ill.  Students who have severe complications should seek immediate assistance at a hospital emergency room. 

Steps to Lessen the Spread of Flu in Residence Halls at Mercer.

• Sick individuals should stay away from other people as much as possible especially others who are at high risk for complications from influenza
• Sick individuals should cover their coughs (use a tissue), and clean their hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub often, especially after coughing and/or sneezing
• EVERYONE should clean their hands often using soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub.
• Contact the Student Health Service (478-301-2696) to ask if roommates—particularly those roommates who may be pregnant or have chronic health conditions—should take antiviral medications such as oseltamivir (Tamiflu®) or zanamivir (Relenza®) to prevent the flu
• If you are in a high risk group for complications from influenza, you should attempt to avoid close contact (within 6 feet) with roommates who are sick with influenza. If close contact with a sick individual is unavoidable, consider wearing a facemask if available and tolerable. Individuals who are at high risk for influenza complications include persons with the following conditions:
  • Chronic pulmonary (including asthma), cardiovascular (except hypertension), renal, hepatic, hematological (including sickle cell disease), neurologic, neuromuscular, or metabolic disorders (including diabetes mellitus).
  • Immunosuppression, including that caused by medications or by HIV.
  • Pregnant women.
  • Persons younger than 19 years of age who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy.

Placement of Sick Students

• As far as possible, sick students should remain in their rooms separate from the common areas of the residence hall. Keep the door closed.
• Unless necessary for medical care or other necessities, people who are sick with an influenza-like-illness should stay home and keep away from others as much as possible, including avoiding travel, for at least 24 hours after fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine). This is to keep from making others sick.
• If persons with the flu need to leave their room (for example, for medical care), they should wear a facemask if available and tolerable, and cover their nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing. A tissue is acceptable if a face mask is not available or tolerated.
• Have the sick person wear a facemask – if available and tolerable – if they need to be in a common area of the residence hall near other persons.

Protecting Other People in the Residence Halls

• If you are in a high risk group for complications from influenza (see list above), you should attempt to avoid close contact (within 6 feet) with anyone who is sick with influenza. If close contact with a sick individual is unavoidable, consider wearing a facemask if available and tolerable.
• Sick students should not have visitors other than roommates.  A phone call or e-mail is safer than a visit.
• Roommates of sick students who are at increased risk of severe illness from influenza should avoid close contact with their sick roommates if at all possible. If close contact with a sick roommate is unavoidable, consider wearing a facemask if available and tolerable.
• Roommates of sick students who are at increased risk of severe illness from influenza should also consider taking prophylactic medications (Tamiflu or Relenza). Contact the Student Health Service at 478-301-2696 during normal operating hours for more information or by e-mail at shcmacon@mercer.edu
• All persons in a living area should clean their hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub frequently, especially after every contact with the sick student or the sick student's room or bathroom.
• Do not share towels.

If you are the roommate of a sick student

• Avoid being face-to-face with your sick roommate.
• Clean your hands with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand rub after you have any direct contact with your sick roommate, or handle used tissues or other personal items belonging to your sick roommate.
• Call the Student Health Service (478-301-2696) or at shcmacon@mercer.edu  if you think you may need antiviral medication to prevent the flu.
• If you are at high risk of influenza associated complications, you should avoid contact with your roommate if possible. In addition, if you are in a high risk group for complications from influenza, you should attempt to avoid close contact (within 6 feet) with anyone else who is sick with influenza.
• Monitor yourself for flu symptoms and call the Student Health Service (478-301-2696) or e-mail at shcmacon@mercer.edu if symptoms persist.

Cleaning, Laundry, and Waste Disposal

• Throw away tissues and other disposable items used by the sick person in the trash. Wash your hands after touching used tissues and similar waste.
• Keep surfaces (especially bedside tables and other surfaces in the room) clean by wiping them down with a household disinfectant according to directions on the product label.
• Linens, eating utensils, and dishes belonging to those who are sick do not need to be cleaned separately, but these items should not be shared without washing thoroughly first.
• Wash linens (such as bed sheets and towels) by using household laundry soap and tumble dry on a hot setting. Avoid “hugging” laundry prior to washing it to prevent contaminating yourself. Clean your hands with soap and water or alcohol-based hand rub right after handling dirty laundry.
• Eating utensils should be washed either in a dishwasher or by hand with hot water and soap.