H1N1 Flu Virus Information For CU-Boulder Faculty
H1N1 Vaccine Update, Nov. 19: Wardenburg Health Center's limited supply of the H1N1 vaccine has been dispensed and there are no more doses at this time. Please check the Flu Vaccine Information Web site for further information.
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The Office of the Chancellor and the Office of the Provost, together with leadership of the Boulder Faculty Assembly, believe that proactive measures should be taken to mitigate how a severe flu season would impact academic, research and business continuity in academic departments.
Representatives will be working with the Boulder Faculty Assembly regarding specific recommendations about absence policies for faculty and students, and flexible methods of meeting course requirements and deadlines. Additional academic continuity planning (arranging for substitute instructors, establishing or updating department policies for missed exams or late projects) is urged for departmental/unit and college levels.
The following is presented as information, as issues to include in department discussions, and as some suggested inclusions for course syllabi. It is offered with the recognition that various colleges, departments and individual courses may be impacted differently, and actions appropriate for one may not apply to all.
Absences
Local and national health authorities are emphasizing that social distancing (public health practice of encouraging people to keep their physical distance from each other during disease outbreaks in order to slow the spread of infection) is critical to protect vulnerable populations.
Current guidelines:
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If illness occurs with fever, stay home until at least 24 hours after fever, or signs of fever, are gone without the use of fever-reducing medications.
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If H1N1 is suspected, do not visit your health care provider unless you are experiencing flu-like symptoms AND you have an underlying health condition (pregnancy, asthma, diabetes, undergoing chemotherapy, etc.) OR your condition worsens.
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To prevent the spread of illness, health authorities are discouraging visits to health facilities to request a doctor’s note to document absence. The campus needs to operate within this parameter, which is a major departure from standard practice.
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Faculty are routinely in the best position to communicate the need for staying home when ill in order to limit spread of the virus. This practice applies to students, to faculty and to staff. Faculty are urged to create a much more flexible absence policy than usual, should we experience an H1N1 outbreak here.
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Faculty and staff should communicate with their departments very early if they become ill, and stay away from campus.
Faculty are strongly urged to engage in active discussion and serious planning about a number of “what if?” questions. Key policies and preparedness areas to consider:
Academic Continuity
There is a high probability that many faculty members and students will contract the H1N1 flu, with several waves of absences possibly occurring. Faculty and administrators need to plan now for continuity of instruction if a local outbreak takes place.
Research Continuity
Critical supply chains, backup supplies
Faculty absence or the absence of graduate students or staff
Computer system or essential equipment availability due to absence of key staff
Business Continuity
Staff in academic departments will also be affected by flu outbreaks. It would be wise to think now about critical functions performed by department staff, and ensure that more than one person is cross-trained on these functions.
Key Points for Syllabus
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Alterations in course content and/or structure may be necessary.
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Emphasize the point that students who are ill with flu-like symptoms should NOT come to class or have close contact with other students (e.g., study groups). They should NOT return to class until 24 hours after fever has abated. Faculty should follow the same guidelines.
- Faculty may wish to refer to the Honor Code to remind students that both abuse of a more lenient absence policy and attendance in class while contagious are incompatible with our code of individual responsibility.
H1N1 and Seasonal Flu Vaccine Clinics
Nationally, seasonal flu shot production and shipping to the private sector was delayed in order to get the H1N1 vaccine out. Because of this, Wardenburg Health Center has only received a portion of its seasonal flu vaccine order. The remainder of the order is expected in November.
In the interim, Wardenburg Health Center is concentrating on getting the vaccine it currently has to the student population, specifically to high-risk students.
All members of the campus community are reminded that the seasonal flu vaccine is already available at many pharmacies, grocery stores and doctors' offices, and may be covered by personal insurance. Individuals, especially those in high-risk categories, are encouraged to get the seasonal flu shot early.
The first batches of H1N1 vaccine are being distributed to the first tier of high-risk individuals as defined by state and federal officials. Wardenburg Health Center has not yet received the vaccine because college campuses are designated as second tier. CU's order of the H1N1 vaccine is expected in November. This vaccine will be made available to the campus community including students, faculty, staff, and their families, free of charge.
Information about flu clinic times and locations is posted on the Wardenburg Health Center flu clinics series page.
