(Oct. 19, 2009) Denver area health officials report initial, limited distribution of the H1N1 flu vaccine is under way. This vaccine is being administered on a priority basis, first to health care workers in accordance with guidelines established by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
UC Denver's Flu Task Force under the leadership of Provost Rod Nairn has submitted official requests for enough doses of the H1N1 vaccine to administer to our faculty, staff and students. The requests are being coordinated with the Auraria Higher Education Center to cover the university's Downtown Denver population as well as those on the Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora.
Information from government sources indicates that the timing may be into November for broader availability (for those not considered high-risk) of the H1N1-specific vaccine. To ensure we're ready when supplies of the vaccine do arrive, detailed plans for administering the doses have been developed by the Task Force. At that time, students, faculty and staff will be alerted of dates, times and locations via multiple channels including e-mail messaging, online announcements and other communication from university leadership.
In related developments, hospitals across Colorado, including University of Colorado Hospital, have implemented visitor restrictions in an effort to protect patients, visitors and employees from the H1N1 and seasonal flu. See details at: http://www.ucdenver.edu/faculty_staff/alert/Flu/FluArchive/Pages/Hospitalsrestrictvisitors