Davison Health Center Puts Pox On You

If you're one of the relatively few on campus who have never had chickenpox or been vaccinated against it, the Davison Health Center is offering free vaccinations in light of the two students here who have mysteriously contracted the contagious disease in the past month:

The two recent cases of chickenpox on campus have highlighted the fact that a small number of Wesleyan students are not immune to chickenpox. Immunity is conferred by having had the infection or by having been vaccinated. Most Americans fall into one of these categories.

Wesleyan University’s Davison Health Center is pleased to announce that, through the generous support of the Connecticut Department of Public Health, we will be able to provide Varicella (chickenpox) vaccination to students not currently immune. The first dose of vaccine will be provided during one or two scheduled clinic sessions after Spring Break. There will be no charge for the vaccination.

If you would like to receive the vaccine, please email your interest to jwalter@wesleyan.edu by Friday, February 29, 2008. We will check your medical record and confirm that you are not immune, then contact you via email with details about the clinic.

Chickenpox Public Health Advisory

Davis Smith, the Medical Director, lets us know that some poor kid here has apparently contracted chickenpox and is being quarantined until they are non-contagious. Chickenpox (varicella) is a contagious disease most of us probably had as kids and is annoying but not a huge deal at a young age, but the older one is when they contract it, the more dangerous and potentially serious it becomes. The Health Center has been talking to the Connecticut Department of Public Health about an appropriate response and has prepared the public health advisory below.

Varicella can be spread in respiratory secretions. The affected student was briefly on and around campus while contagious. Persons who are immune or who were not exposed are not at risk. Most people on campus are not at risk.

Who is at risk?
Persons who are not immune to varicella (defined below)
AND
Were exposed (defined below).

Who is immune?
Persons are considered immune who:
Have a normally functioning immune system defined for these purposes as: not immunocompromised due to pregnancy, disease or medication
AND
Have had chickenpox (varicella)
OR
Have been vaccinated against varicella.

Who may have been exposed?
Exposure in this instance is defined as at the following locations only at the specific times listed.
Mon – Wed am: Clark Hall dormitory 3^rd floor
Monday: SC109 10 am – 12:20 pm
RLEN 106 1:10-2:30
FISK 404 2:20-4:00
PAC computer lab from 5-7 pm
Tuesday: SC 58 10:30 am – 11:50 am
ST computer lab from 8pm – 1 am
Wednesday: PAC 107 8:30am – 9:50

What should at risk (non-immune AND exposed) persons do?
We request that all at risk individuals notify the Davison Health Center 860.685.2470 to be entered into an exposure log, to review their risk status, to be offered vaccination which may be protective for this exposure, and for other counseling. Such individuals may also wish to contact their primary care provider.

What if I don’t know whether or not I am immune?
Students unsure of their vaccination status should contact the Health Center (860) 685-2470 or their primary care provider. Faculty and staff should contact their primary care provider.

Where can I find more information about varicella?
More information is available at http://www.ct.gov/dph/cwp/view.asp?a=3136&q=388264 and at http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/list_varicl.htm.