Updated: November 10, 2009

Although the recent H1N1 influenza outbreak has not proven to be as severe as expected, the Harvard community is continuing to take additional precautions to contain the spread of the flu as much as possible. With the H1N1 virus more prevalent among young people, community members may need to take sick days both for themselves and to care for children and other family members.

The Boston Public Health Commission has recommended that all age groups get the regular seasonal flu vaccine in order to help minimize cases and leave healthcare personnel and hospitals with more resources to address illness from the new H1N1 flu.

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Message from Harvard University Health Services

H1N1 Vaccine Information 

November 10, 2009

Harvard University Health Services has received a new shipment of H1N1 vaccine, and HUHS staff members are communicating directly with HUHS members who according to public health guidelines should receive priority for vaccination against the new strain of Influenza A.

HUHS has already begun administering the initial doses that it received to those who are pregnant or children 6 months to 9 years of age. In accordance with updated public health guidelines, HUHS will now begin offering vaccinations to all of its pediatric patients, ages 6 months to 18 years.

Production of the vaccine has been slow, and while HUHS expects to receive additional shipments it seems unlikely that HUHS will get all of the approximately 15,000 doses that it requested.

Because supplies are limited, HUHS is following strict guidelines established by the public health authorities as it prioritizes the distribution of the H1N1 vaccine and it is not at this time able to offer the vaccine to the wider Harvard community, as it did with the seasonal flu vaccine.

After children and pregnant women in the HUHS population are vaccinated, and as more doses become available, HUHS staff will offer the vaccine to those who live with or care for infants younger than 6 months of age, household contacts of pregnant women in their third trimester, and healthcare and emergency medical personnel.

When more vaccine is obtained, the next groups eligible for the H1N1 vaccine will be patients between 10 and 24 years of age who are at higher risk because of chronic health disorders, and then people 25 to 64 years old with similar high-risk medical conditions.

HUHS will make the vaccine available to other populations as supplies become available.

While two versions of the vaccine are available, a "live" vaccine that is administered as a nasal spray and poses risks to pregnant women and some children and an inactivated vaccine that has very few side effects, HUHS is administering only the inactivated vaccine.

If you are not a HUHS patient, but are interested in obtaining an H1N1 vaccination, please consult with your primary care physician.

For more information about H1N1 flu, please visit www.harvard.edu/h1n1.

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Message from Harvard University Health Services

Seasonal Flu Vaccine Update 

October 30, 2009

After administering more than 15,000 vaccines over the past month and one-half, HUHS has ended its seasonal flu vaccine clinics in the Holyoke Center. We anticipated a busy flu season and, after ordering considerably more vaccine than we have in the past, we were able to provide vaccinations to the Harvard community much earlier than we have in previous years.

We will be proceeding with scheduled clinics in the undergraduate dining halls, but because our distributor has not been able to provide us with the final shipment of 1600 doses of vaccine that we ordered we regrettably will be canceling a number of clinics scheduled for other sites around the campus.

Students, faculty and staff who still wish to receive a seasonal flu vaccine should check with their local pharmacies, which have also been administering flu shots and may still have supplies.

While we will be suspending seasonal flu vaccines a little earlier than we had originally planned, the work that went into making this season's flu clinics so effective will enable us to efficiently distribute H1N1 influenza vaccines when those supplies arrive.

Please keep in mind that there will be a limited supply of H1N1 vaccines available, and HUHS will be following guidelines established by the public health authorities to prioritize the distribution of the doses we receive.

Individuals living in close contact (e.g., roommate, family member) with someone who has the flu (either seasonal or H1N1) should monitor their personal health and be aware of any symptoms. Harvard University Health Services (HUHS) stresses that you follow the recommended precautions to stay healthy as detailed on the HUHS website http://huhs.harvard.edu.  HUHS advises that you seek medical attention if you develop a cough, sore throat, body aches and have a fever of greater than 100 degrees F (37.8 C).

The Boston Public Health Commission and Mayor Menino have asked that employees experiencing flu-like sickness stay home from work and that employers make reasonable allowances for these absences. At HSPH, the Local Emergency Management Team (LEMT), senior management and HR are formulating advice for managers on how to approach back up plans for maintaining needed work flow in the face of many absences.

The BPHC recommends that people with influenza-like illnesses should stay home and away from others for 24 hours after they have stopped taking fever-reducing medication or for four days — whichever is longer. 

Please pay special attention for updates on this website and the HUHS website, as well as announcements via 617-432-NEWS (6397), email, on the MYHSPH portal, and in Harvard Public Health NOW.  

-- Poster images from the Boston Public Health Commission