Student Health News

Subject: Walk in Flu Vaccine Clinic 2007

Updated: November 30th, 2007

LA County public health officials are urging residents to receive the flu vaccine while there is still time and vaccine available. UCI Student Health Center is offering the flu vaccine shots on the following dates:

The fee is $22 and no appointment is needed. For more information about influenza and the flu vaccine, see http://www.cdc.gov/flu/keyfacts.htm

Subject: Wildfire Health Update

Updated: Oct 22, 2007

Due to the wildfires near our campus, it is important that you stay indoors as much as possible.  Wear a mask if you need to be outdoor for longer period of time (limited supply available at Student Health Center), especially for those with respiratory conditions.  For respiratory symptoms (breathing difficulty, tightness in the chest, wheezing) it is advisable that you seek prompt medical attention from your primary care provider. 

Subject: Construction News

Posted: Jan 9, 2007

All services at the Student Health Center remain open during the current construction, which upon completion will add much needed space to the facility. The staff at Student Health Center wishes the UCI community a healthy and successful 2007!

Subject: Gardasil Vaccine Available at SHC

Posted: Oct 10, 2006

Gardasil, the vaccine against Human Papilloma Virus Types 6, 11, 16, and 18, is now offered at SHC. The vaccine is recommended for girls and women 9 through 26 years of age. Three doses are required for immunity, the second and third doses to be given 2 months and 6 months after the first, respectively. The vaccine is not a covered USHIP benefit. The fee is $140 per dose. Interested students can call for an appointment with the Nurse Clinic at SHC (appointment 824-5304). For more information on Gardasil: http://www.cdc.gov/std/hpv/STDFact-HPV-vaccine.htm#hpvvac4 .

Subject: FLU VACCINE 2006

Posted: Oct 3, 2006

The Student Health Center is expecting to offer flu shots at Walk-In Flu Vaccine Clinics starting around mid-October. The price of the flu shot will be $22. Flu Clinic dates will be posted soon. Please check back later.

Subject: Welcome New Students

Posted: June 19, 2006

Welcome Incoming Students!

You will soon be receiving two separate mailings from the Student Health Center.

The Insurance Packet contains a brochure that will answer all your questions regarding the Undergraduate Student Health Insurance Plan (USHIP). It explains health plan details and benefits. There is also information on how to waive (opt out) of the plan if you have your own comparable, verifiable health policy. The waiver deadline is September 8, 2006.

The New Student Packet contains information about the Student Health Center and the services we offer. It also contains the Admissions Health Requirement Forms. These forms must be completed and returned to Student Health by all students, regardless of their insurance plan.

 Both of these mailings should arrive in your homes approximately the middle of July.

Subject: Avian Flu Pandemic Plan for UCI

Posted: May 4, 2006

Please refer to the Environmental Health and Safety Services website for update on the Avian Flu and the UCI Campus Pandemic Plan in progress:
  http://www.ehs.uci.edu/programs/occhlth/pandemic/index.html

Subject: MUMPS UPDATE 4/27/2006

Posted: April 27, 2006

As of April 20, 2006, more than 1500 suspected and confirmed mumps cases have been reported to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) since December 2005.  While the majority of cases have been reported in young adults (many are college students) from Iowa and multiple neighboring states, to date according to the Orange County Health Agency there is no mumps outbreak in California or Orange County.  

Mumps is an acute viral infection characterized initially by nonspecific symptoms of fever, headaches, muscle aches, malaise, etc., followed by swelling of the parotid or other salivary glands on one or both sides of the jaw or under the chin. If you have symptoms similar to the aforementioned, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible.  Occasionally mumps can lead to serious complications including inflammation of the reproductive organs, meningitis, encephalitis, and deafness. 

The MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine can help to prevent the transmission of this communicable disease.  If you have not received 2 doses of this vaccine, it is strongly recommended that you get vaccinated.  Student Health Center offers this vaccine through the Nurse Clinic.  Please make an appointment at 949-825-5304.  For more information about mumps, see http://www.cdc.gov/nip/diseases/mumps/default.htm

Subject: Update on Ortho-Evra

Posted: November 15, 2005

FDA update on Ortho-Evra: http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/news/2005/NEW01262.html

Subject: Facts About the Bird Flu

Posted: October 24, 2005

Key Facts About the Bird Flu: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/gen-info/pdf/avianflufacts.pdf

Subject: FLU VACCINE UPDATE 2005-06

Posted: September 27, 2005

Student Health Center Follows CDC Recommendation on Flu Vaccine Prioritization 2005-06

Student Health Center currently has in stock a limited supply of the Flu Vaccine ("Flu Shot") and will follow the CDC recommendation on flu vaccine prioritization for the upcoming flu season of 2005-06 (see below).  Dates for the Flu Vaccine Clinics at SHC will be posted as soon as available. Please check back later.

According to the latest update by the Center For Disease Control released on September 2, 2005, because of the uncertainties regarding production of influenza vaccine, the exact number of available doses and timing of vaccine distribution for the 2005-06 influenza season remain unknown. Given the uncertainties in doses and distribution, CDC recommends that the following priority groups receive the trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine until October 24, 2005:

• persons aged >65 years with or without comorbid conditions (chronic medical conditions such as diabetes, cancer, heart disease, chronic lung disease including asthma, etc.)
• persons aged 2 to 64 years with comorbid conditions (chronic medical conditions such as diabetes, cancer, heart disease, chronic lung disease including asthma, etc.)
• children aged 6--23 months
• pregnant women
• health-care personnel who provide direct patient care
• household contacts and out-of-home caregivers of children aged <6 months
• residents of long-term care facilities

Subject: WEST NILE VIRUS UPDATE 4/25/05

Posted: April 25, 2005

According to Orange County Vector Control, the West Nile Virus (WNV) has been detected in Orange County. This is a few months earlier than last year, largely due to heavy rains. Under general direction of the Campus Environmental and Health Services, UC Irvine has prepared a plan of action for the prevention, surveillance, and control of mosquitoes that transmit WNV. In partnership with Orange County Vector Control staff and faculty across campus are working together on surveillance and abatement activities to minimize mosquitoes on campus. This plan focuses on the minimization of mosquito breeding areas as well as the application of environmentally friendly larvicides to standing water areas to prevent mosquito larva from maturing. The campus population is encouraged to become more knowledgeable about WNV by consulting: http://www.ehs.uci.edu/programs/safety/westnile.html, and to seek early medical attention if necessary from Student Health Center or their private health care provider.

Subject: Health Alert: TB

Posted: November 9, 2004

UCI TB CASE

• On Monday, November 1, 2004, the Orange County Health Care Agency notified UCI that a 23-year-old UCI student had been diagnosed with tuberculosis and was hospitalized and undergoing treatment.
  
• The UCI Student Health Center and the Office of Environmental Health and Safety have been working closely with OCHCA to identify the patient's scope of contacts with other individuals. Approximately 1,000 individuals were identified as having contact with the infected student.
  
• By Friday, Nov. 5, these individuals had been contacted personally, by e-mail, U.S. mail or a combination thereof and informed of their possible exposure.
  
• Those having close contact (primarily dorm residents) have been offered TB skin tests and chest x-rays at no charge. Those individuals with more casual contact (primarily classmates) have been offered TB skins tests only, at no charge. The screenings are scheduled from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Nov. 10, 12, 15 and 17 at Student Health Center.
  
• Impacted individuals also are being given the opportunity to discuss questions or concerns with campus and public health officials. Questions about the disease, exposure, etc. should be directed to the OCHCA public health hotline: (714) 834-8790. Questions regarding screening should be directed to the Student Health Nurse Line: (949) 824-5940.
  
• UCI will continue to work with OCHCA to monitor impacted individuals on an ongoing basis.
  
• Additional information is available at OCHCA's website: http://www.ochealthinfo.com/public/tb/
  

Subject: West Nile Virus Info

Posted: August 13, 2004

Something to remember: The chance that any one person is going to become ill from a single mosquito bite remains low. The risk of severe illness and death is highest for people over 50 years old, although people of all ages can become ill.

When dealing with West Nile virus, prevention is your best bet. Fighting mosquito bites reduces your risk of getting this disease, along with others that mosquitoes can carry. Take the commonsense steps below to reduce your risk:

• avoid mosquito bites.
• clean out the mosquitoes from the places where you work and play.
• help your community control the disease.

For more detailed information see http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/prevention_info.htm.

Subject: Past News

Posted:

The Student Health Center at UC Irvine has been awarded reaccredidation by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC). Status as an accredited organization means Student Health Center has passed a series of rigorous and nationally recognized standards for the provision of quality health care, set by the AAAHC.

In 1980 UCI Student Health became the first student health center on the West Coast to be nationally accredited by the AAAHC. This accreditation has been consistently maintained since. The latest accreditation survey took place at Student Health Center on November 5-6, 2001. The accreditation status is awarded for 3 years.

Effective fall quarter 2001, the Regents of the University of California are requiring undergraduate students on all UC campuses to carry health insurance.  In concert with implementation of this plan in fall 2001, the UCI Student Health Center has revised its existing fee policy for the Medical and Specialty Clinics.  While every effort will be made to keep fees low and affordable for all students, our courtesy waiver of the Medical Clinic visit fee during the academic school year for students with a Physical Examination on file ended on the last day of spring quarter 2001.