New flu vaccine shipment arrives; available to some
Thanks to an additional shipment of influenza vaccines, Vaden Health Center will be able to broaden its distribution of flu vaccinations to high-risk faculty, staff and retirees and their spouses and domestic partners in addition to students who are already being immunized. Immunization clinics are scheduled for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of this week.
Earlier this month, Vaden announced that it had received only 1,900 doses of the vaccine, half of the number it distributed last year. In response, the center announced that it would give priority to students considered most at risk for complications from the flu. An additional 1,700 doses received recently paves the way for the university to administer the vaccine to staff and faculty and their domestic partners in those categories as well.
"I'm glad that we are able to serve our high-risk faculty, staff and students as we have in the past," said Dr. Ira Friedman, director of Vaden Health Center.
Those considered at high risk according to the Santa Clara County Health Officer and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, are adults 65 years and older or persons with chronic medical conditions such as diabetes mellitus, asthma, heart disease, kidney disease, severe anemia, cancer, weakened immune system due to immunosuppressive medications or HIV. Women who will be pregnant during the flu season also are eligible, as are residents of nursing homes and long-term care facilities, out-of-home caregivers and household contacts of children under 6 months old.
Medical faculty and clinician educators who are involved in direct patient care will be vaccinated in Stanford Medical Center's vaccination program and should contact their clinic chief for more information.
Medical students in their third and fourth years are being vaccinated separately, as well. Those students should contact the director of student life at the School of Medicine at 498-4945.
There is no charge for the vaccination for faculty, staff or retirees. Students will be charged $20 ($10 if enrolled in Cardinal Care). Spouses and domestic partners will be charged $20.
Vaccination clinics will be held Tuesday, Oct. 26, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Wednesday, Oct. 27, from 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; and Thursday, Oct. 28, from 3 to 6 p.m. Vaccinations will not be administered at this year's benefits fairs.
Persons wishing to use the Vaden clinic are encouraged to register online in advance. Registration is not required, nor does it guarantee the availability of a vaccination. However, it will help the Vaden staff to manage distribution. Registration forms are available at the Vaden website at http://vaden.stanford.edu.
Those who wish to register in advance but do not have online access should call 725-1364 weekdays between 9 a.m. and noon and 1 to 5 p.m.
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