UPbeat

News for and about University of Portland faculty and staff.

Health Center

Immunization-Prevented Illnesses: What You Need to Know

Recent cases of meningococcal meningitis resulting in a fatality at an Oregon college campus have prompted the passing of SB 274, effective as of January 2018. This bill requires Oregon colleges and universities that offer student housing to inform new students about immunization-prevented illnesses.

The University Health & Counseling Center encourages all students and staff members to be informed of symptoms and risks associated with these immunization-prevented illnesses. We promote prevention through vaccination and awareness. Please review this information provided by the Oregon Health Authority regarding symptoms of these immunization-prevented illnesses, preventive measures, recommended and required vaccines, and information regarding these vaccines. This information will be distributed to students, faculty, and staff members at the beginning of the spring semester.

For more information contact the Health & Counseling Center at x7134 or hcc@up.edu.

 

Brown Bag Session on Student Mental Health, Nov. 15

How would you respond to a student who told you during an office hours visit that they were feeling suicidal? What would you do if you noticed major changes in a student’s demeanor in class, but they didn’t seem inclined to talk to you, even when prompted? UP faculty want to have the knowledge and skills to navigate these troubling waters and also understand their own limits. The Teaching and Learning Collaborative invites you to a brown bag session on Wednesday, November 15, 11:25-12:20 p.m., in Buckley Center room 215. Facilitators Andrew Guest, psychological sciences, and Eliot Altschul, Health & Counseling Center, will walk participants through vignettes such as these, illuminate how support services on campus for mental wellness have expanded in the past year, and field questions related to faculty members’ roles in student mental health. We hope this type of brown bag conversation will recur, so suggestions for future sessions will be solicited.

How To Prepare For Flu Season? Get Your Shot!

sick-kidThe Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends yearly influenza vaccination and the University Health and Counseling Center encourages all campus community members to follow that recommendation. The timing of flu season is unpredictable and can vary from season to season. Flu activity most commonly peaks in the U.S. between December and February. However, seasonal flu activity can begin as early as October and continue to occur as late as May. The CDC recommends that people get vaccinated against the flu soon after vaccine becomes available, preferably by October. It takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop in the body and provide protection against the flu, so the time is now.

The Health and Counseling Center has partnered with Walmart Pharmacy this year for flu vaccinations. Walmart will be on campus Thursday, October 13, from 5 to 9 p.m., in Mehling Ballroom and Saturday, November 12, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Mehling Ballroom. Please bring your health insurance card, as most insurance plans will cover the cost. Help join us in keeping our University community healthy.

Contact the health center at x7134 for more information.

Teachers, Parents Take Note: New Recommendation For Meningitis B Vaccine

1aFlu Shot Child.150jpgThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended that decisions to vaccinate adolescents and young adults 16 through 23 years of age against serogroup B meningococcal disease (MenB) should be made at the individual level with healthcare providers, according to Susan Chisum, health center. College students, who spend lots of time together in close quarters, are more likely to catch and spread meningitis. The University health center recommends that students and their families discuss the matter with their health care providers to determine if they should receive the vaccine.

To learn more about Meningitis B, please click on this link or contact the University Health Center at 7134 or health@up.edu.

“Catch UP” With Accessibility, Accommodations Requirements

staff & faculty portraitsThe TLC resource of the week for March 2-8 will be Catch UP Sessions offered by the students with disabilities office, a key partner in the Teaching and Learning Collaborative. Catch UP is a series of workshops for faculty and staff to help them “Catch UP” by answering questions about accommodations and providing simple tips for incorporating accessibility into course materials. The Catch UP series will take place on Tuesdays from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., in the Franz Hall Murphy Room, on the following dates: March 3 (on Confidentiality, Safety Plans and Note-Taking), 17 (on Exacerbation of Condition and the 30% Absence Limit), 24 (on Defining Accessibility for Course Materials) and 31 (on Exam accommodations). All attendees at each session will receive a coupon for a free cup of coffee.

For more information contact Melanie Gangle, health center, at gangle@up.edu.

Health Center: Information about Measles

1aFlu-Shot-Child.150jpgOn Friday, January 23, 2015, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Health Alert Network issued an advisory regarding the multi-state measles outbreak, which began in California in December. CDC reminds us that measles is a highly contagious, acute viral illness which can cause severe health complications, including pneumonia, encephalitis, and death. It is transmitted by contact with an infected person through coughing and sneezing; infected people are contagious from four days before their rash starts through four days afterwards. After an infected person leaves a location, the virus remains viable for up to two hours on surfaces and in the air.

Please visit the CDC website to learn what vaccines are recommended for you. Contact your healthcare provider, local pharmacy or the health center for additional information.

Our Latest Campus Visitors

sick kidViruses have arrived on the UP campus along with returning faculty, staff, and students, according to Susan Chisum, health center. Unlike with other guests, it’s best to keep viruses at bay to have a happy, healthy New Year. While walking to class or the office you hear the dreaded cough and sneeze—that means the rhinovirus or cold virus is here. The flu virus is also spread that way, so please cover your cough or sneeze. An innocent gesture like sharing a drink with a friend can expose students to Mono or any number of contagious viruses. Sharing a bite of pizza or other food can lead to the dreaded Norovirus (nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea). The following tips may seem obvious, but in the long run following these steps will help us all have a better chance for a healthy winter and spring on The Bluff:

  • Hand-washing is key—wash your hands often with soap and warm water, especially before meals, after using the restroom, coughing or sneezing. Alcohol hand sanitizers are effective when soap and water are not available.
  • Limit physical contact—this is the optimal way to prevent viruses from spreading. Stay home if you are sick. Don’t risk spreading your illness to others. You should stay home for at least 24 hours after any fever is gone.

If you feel the odds are against you, practicing prevention now will help reduce your risk of illness. If you have not had a flu shot, make an appointment at the health center today. If you’ve heard that the match between the flu vaccine and some of the flu strains are not perfect, that is correct. However, the CDC is still recommending the flu vaccine as it protects you from three different strains of flu.

If you do catch the flu, you may have a high fever and be ill for a week or longer. The health center supports the CDC recommendation for flu prevention: get vaccinated! Please visit the health center website for suggestions on managing symptoms if you become ill.

Roll Up Your Sleeves, Protect Our Campus

sick kid2Protection gained from some childhood vaccines can wear off over time, according to Susan Chisum, health center. Regardless of age, all adults need immunizations to help them avoid developing and spreading serious diseases that could result in poor health, missed work, medical bills, or worse. Fall is the perfect time of year for adults to review immunization status. Some vaccines require more than one dose, some happen yearly (such as the flu vaccine), and others require booster doses. Keeping up-to-date with recommended vaccines is the best way to protect you and your loved ones. Please visit the CDC website at http://tinyurl.com/mq92rrp to learn which vaccines are recommended for you.

Health Center: Don’t Miss Out On Flu Vaccine!

hDid you miss out on receiving your flu vaccine? Join the health center staff on Friday to help keep our campus healthy this flu season. The health center will hold another flu clinic on Friday, October 24, in Christie Hall lobby, from 3:30 to 6 p.m. If you are unable to make the flu clinic you may also call the health center at 7134 and schedule a time to be vaccinated. For additional information visit the CDC website at http://tinyurl.com/lh5n28e.

Best Way to Tell the Flu to Shoo

sick kidThe flu season is fast approaching and faculty, staff, and students can take measures to minimize the risk of contracting the disease, according to Susan Chisum, health center.

First and foremost, get the seasonal flu vaccine! According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), most deaths and hospitalizations from influenza and its related complications occur in babies, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems. However, the majority of flu is spread by young, healthy, unvaccinated children and adults. That’s why vaccination is such an important part of flu prevention. Keep our campus healthy by getting your flu vaccine today. Spread the word about the flu vaccine and encourage all members of our campus community to get vaccinated. The health center has flu vaccine available by calling 7134 and scheduling a time to be vaccinated.

For additional information visit the CDC website at http://tinyurl.com/lh5n28e.