To Faculty and Staff:
Due to the national vaccine shortage, healthy individuals 2-64 years of age are being asked to forgo flu shots this year. Depending on the severity of the flu season, we may see a higher-than-usual number of flu cases resulting in increased absences from classes and work.
The Dowell Health Center is carrying out a campus-wide flu education and prevention campaign. To reduce the transmission of flu virus from sick individuals to classmates, professors, co-workers, etc., we are recommending that individuals who develop typical flu symptoms (sudden onset of fever over 100.5F, dry cough, severe muscle aches, headache) stay home until their fever subsides. (Usually, the worst of the flu is over in 4-5 days, a week at most, unless complications occur.)
Faculty:
We are specifically requesting that you do not send students who have been absent from class with the flu to the Healtch Center just to obtain a medical excuse. These individuals do not need to be seen by a medical professional after their illness is over, and they take up limited appointment slots at a very busy time. Many people with the flu do not even need to see a health care provider since the illness is usually self-limited, and they could spread the illness to other people by going out.
As a matter of policy, the Health Center does not issue medical excuses for students with short-term illness (less than a week).* We always recommend that sick students contact their professors by phone or e-mail in advance to advise them they will be absent due to illness and to arrange for making up assignments.
CDC GUIDELINES TO PREVENTING SPREAD OF THE FLU
WASH YOUR HANDS
Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs. Use regular soap and water or alcohol-based hand cleaner.
COVER YOUR MOUTH AND NOSE WHEN COUGHING OR SNEEZING
If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve, not your hands. Put your used tissue in the wastebasket. Clean your hands after coughing or sneezing.
AVOID TOUCHING YOUR EYES, NOSE OR MOUTH
Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose or mouth.
AVOID CLOSE CONTACT WITH SICK PEOPLE
When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too.
STAY HOME WHEN YOU ARE SICK
If possible, stay home from work, school and errands when you are sick. You will help prevent others from catching your illness.
*Please refer to our web site for the medical excuse policy that has been in effect since Fall of 2001: {http://wwwnew.towson.edu/dowellhealthcenter/excuse.html}.
