Injections & Immunizations

Flu Vaccine - 2011

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is recommending flu vaccination for everyone. "One shot" will protect against the seasonal and H1N1 flu.

Flu Vaccine for Students - Over 2700 flu shots were given to students at flu clinics held in October and November; flu shots still available by appointment by calling 401-863-1330.

The CDC Vaccine Information Sheet must be reviewed before you receive your shot. Copies will also be available at the clinics.

Questions? Contact nursing@brown.edu or call 401-863-1330

Flu Vaccine for Staff and Faculty - Information can be obtained at:
http://www.brown.edu/Administration/Human_Resources/benefits/index.html
For schedule and logistic questions, contact the Benefits Office at 401-863-2141.

Information about Seasonal Flu

What are the symptoms of Flu?
The symptoms consist most commonly of sudden onset of fever, body aches, dry cough and sore throat. It is different from a "stomach bug" which usually consists of nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea; and from the common cold which is usually milder and does not come on as quickly.

 

Report your Influenza-Like Illness and Missed Classes

We are encouraging Brown students who are ill with influenza-like illness (ILI) to report their missed class time and needs for assistance on the FLU WEB. Log into this website and answer some questions which will enable us to know that you are ill with influenza-like symptoms, that you are being cared for, and what needs you have. The information you give will also allow us to confirm for faculty missed class time due to influenza illness. Please note no medical information reported to Health Services is accessible from this reporting website.

You will receive a follow-up phone call from a staff member in Campus Life or the Dean of the College office, so please be sure to provide a phone number where we can reach you. If you get significantly worse before you receive a return phone call, please call Health Services at 863-1330.

Call EMS (Emergency Medical Services) @ 401-863-4111 if you have (or your roommate/friend has):

  • Pain in your chest;
  • Difficulty breathing;
  • Confusion or decreased awareness.

Call Health Services @ 401-863-1330 IMMEDIATELY if you have:

  • Severe headache;
  • Rash;
  • Stiff neck.

Call Health Services @ 401-863-1330 TODAY if you have:

  • Were feeling better for 24 hours but now feel ill again (especially if you currently have fever or cough);
  • Have bloody or rust-colored mucous;
  • Have severe sore throat;
  • Are unable to keep fluids down (i.e., you are vomiting back up anything you drink);
  • Have any other condition that concerns you;
  • Have a chronic medical condition, or are pregnant or nursing, and have not already talked with a University Health Services provider. (Chronic medical conditions include significant asthma or other respiratory illness, significant chronic cardiovascular, liver, blood, neurologic disease or diabetes, HIV, or taking immunosuppressive drugs).

 

Allergy Injections

Our Nursing staff is available to administer allergy injections. The allergy serum and written instructions must be provided by your physician. Allergy medication will be stored at Health Services for your convenience. Allergy injections are given by appointment only (Monday - Friday 8:30am - 5pm). Contact the Nursing staff at 863-1330 for more information.

There is a charge for allergy injections. A single injection is $10.00, 2 or more is $15.00. The charges will be billed to your Bursar account.

When sending allergy serum, please use FedEx or UPS Next Day (not USPS Express Mail)
Send your allergy serum to:
Brown University Health Services
Attention: Nursing Services, 2nd floor
13 Brown Street
Providence, RI 02906

State of Rhode Island Immunization Requirements

  • MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) vaccine, two doses; one on or after 12 months of age and the second at least one month after the first dose (or two individual doses of each vaccine)
  • Tetanus / Diphtheria (or Tdap) booster within the past 10 years
  • Hepatitis B vaccine - three doses (must have started the series with at least one dose - remaining doses may be completed with the Nursing Staff at Health Services)
  • Varicella (chickenpox) - history of disease or vaccine, two doses

Brown University also strongly recommends that all incoming students, especially freshmen living in the residence halls, receive the meningococcal vaccine.

Immunizations

The following immunizations are available at Health Services:

  • Hepatitis A
  • Hepatitis B
  • HPV
  • Meningococcal
  • MMR (Measles/Mumps/Rubella)
  • Pneumococcal
  • PPD
  • Polio
  • Tdap
  • Rabies
  • Tetanus/Diphtheria
  • Typhoid
  • Twinrix (both Hepatitis A and B)
  • Varicella (Chickenpox)

Immunizations for Travel Abroad

Plan ahead! It may take a month or more to complete the immunizations and/or medications you need before leaving the United States. If you are planning to travel or study abroad; call a local Travel Clinic to schedule an appointment for travel advice. Two local travel clinics are the Miriam Hospital in Providence (793-2500, extension 35600) and Memorial Hospital in Pawtucket (729-3610).

  • At your visit to the Travel Clinic, you will be advised of your specific needs. You may then be able to schedule an appointment at Health Services (call 863-3953) to receive some or all of the immunizations and/or medications that the Travel Clinic recommends. Please remember to ask the specific name of the malaria drug that is advised for your itinerary.
  • Also, you will need an appointment with Nursing Services at Brown Health Services. Call 863-1330 to set up an appointment to receive the vaccinations. This appointment must be AFTER your appointment with the provider, because the vaccines must be ordered before they can be given to you. Your appointment with Nursing Services may be the same day as your appointment with the provider.
  • If a physical exam is required for your travel abroad, you may schedule this at Health Services. Call 863-3953 as soon as possible.
  • If yellow fever vaccine is required, schedule an appointment with the Travel Clinic as we do not have this vaccine at Brown Health Services.
  • You may also check out the CDC Travel Information Web site. This is a service of the of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that provides:
    • geographic health recommendations (including vaccination recommendations) by world region and by specific country within regions;
    • up-to-date disease outbreak information for specific areas of travel; and
    • additional information about disease prevention and treatment for traveler

 

Information about Meningococcal Vaccination

The Rhode Island Department of Health and Brown University recommend that college freshmen living in dormitories be vaccinated against meningococcal if they have not already been vaccinated. College students have a greater risk of meningococcal infection than the general population because of activities that are often a part of college life.

Recent evidence found students residing in dormitories appear to be at higher risk than college students overall. Further research by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) in October of 1999 shows freshmen living in dormitories have a six times higher rate of meningococcal disease than college students overall.

What is meningococcal?
Where can I get the vaccine?
Are there any side effects?
What is the cost?
Where can I get more information?

There are two types of meningococcal:

1. Viral meningococcal

This is the more common form of the disease. It is usually not as serious as bacterial meningococcal and patients get better with minimal treatment. (The vaccine does not protect against viral meningococcal.)

2. Bacterial meningococcal

Meningococcal meningococcal is a bacterial infection that can cause severe swelling of the brain and spinal cord. The disease is very dangerous and progresses rapidly. The infection can cause serious illness, permanent disabilities or death within 24 to 48 hours.

The early signs and symptoms of bacterial meningococcal are similar to the flu. Many with meningococcal complain of headache, stiff neck, extreme fatigue, nausea, vomiting and sensitivity to light. Some people also develop a purplish, red rash on their arms and legs. Students should seek medical attention if they develop these symptoms.

Where can I get the vaccine?

We strongly recommend that you receive the vaccine prior to starting at Brown. It is available at Health Services. Contact the nursing staff to schedule an appointment.

Are there any side effects?

The most common side effect is redness and soreness at the injection site.

What is the cost?

If you are 18 years old or under, we have a limited supply of free vaccine from the State of Rhode Island. Otherwise, please contact the pharmacy at 863-7882 for the current cost. Students receiving financial aid from Brown can add this expense to their student budget and increase their student loan to assist in covering the vaccine cost. If you receive the vaccine from your local provider, you will need to send a receipt listing the provider and the cost to the Financial Aid Office, before any additional resources can be considered. For students receiving the vaccine on campus, Health Services will coordinate the request to increase the student's loan directly with the Financial Aid Office.

Where can I get more information?