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.

Appointments
If you are planning to travel or study abroad, call Brown Health Services well in advance to schedule a pre-travel visit. A provider will discuss and order appropriate vaccines and medicines for your destination, based onrecommendations from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Before your pre-travel visit,it is helpful for you to review the CDC Travel Health website (www.cdc.gov/travel) and review the Destinations section for health and vaccine recommendations byspecific country. This site also includesup-to-date disease outbreak information for specific areas of travel and additional information about disease prevention and treatment.

If a physical exam is required for your travel abroad, you may schedule this at Health Services as well.  Orders for travel vaccines and medicines can sometimes be taken care of at the physical appointment.

After your pre-travel appointment or physical with a provider you most likely need an appointment with Nursing Services to receive your ordered vaccinations. You can often schedule this appointment for the same day.  

Your Health Services provider will also provide you with access to an online travel video, which reviews many important travel precautions.

Health Services website has two patient education series handouts, “Plan Ahead for Travel” and“TB Risk for Medical Travelers”. Please read for additional information.

Yellow Fever Vaccine Requirement
Some destinations require yellow vaccine for which there are specific requirements for official documentation. It may be given only at approved centers (Brown Health Services is not one of them) and you must receive the vaccine at least 10 days prior to entering the country.  Make sure to allow plenty of timeto arrange for this vaccination, as there may be a delay in getting an appointment at a community site.

These sites also provide travel services such as pre travel visits, travel vaccines and medications on a fee for service basis. Prices and insurance coverage vary. Please ask about your specific plan.

Yellow fever vaccine can be obtainedat the following centers in the Providence area:

  • Travel Clinics at The Miriam Hospital in Providence (401-793-4075)
  • Travel Clinic at Memorial Hospital in Pawtucket (401-729-3610).
  • Travel RI (also known as Axiom Health Care) in Pawtucket (401-312-0545)
  • Concentra in Providence (401-722-8880)

Health Services provides this list for your convenience. Please be advised that this list is not meant as an endorsement of the pricing or quality of care they provide.

 

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?