The cold and flu season will soon be upon us and COVID-19 has not gone away. All members of the campus community are encouraged to protect themselves and others from illness. This helps prevent widespread disease.

Here are some tips:

Get the shots!

• Vaccines are the best way to prevent flu and COVID-19.
• The CDC (Centers for Disease Control)  recommends everyone six months of age and older without contraindications receives the seasonal flu vaccine as soon as possible, and to stay current with vaccination against COVID-19 per guidelines. 
• COVID-19 vaccines are safe, effective, and free.
• Vaccines are available through your healthcare provider and many local pharmacies Visit Vaccinefinder.org to find vaccination locations.
• Most insurance plans cover the cost of the flu vaccine.
• It's best to get the flu vaccine during of September and October, before the start of flu season, but anytime after is also effective. 
• All health professions students, and students and employees who are also health care workers, are encouraged to get the flu and COVID-19 vaccines. In some programs this is mandatory. Check with your instructor.

Uninsured?

• The Orange County Department of Health offers immunization clinics for those who are uninsured. Call 845-291-2330 for more details. Also, some pharmacies offer vouchers for free flu vaccines so you might want to call around to see where this is possible.

Stay home from school or work if:

• You feel sick
• You have a temperature of 100 or greater
• You have a fever, sore throat, cough, runny and/or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills, fatigue

If you are sick:

• Avoid contact with others as much as possible. Wear a face mask when contact is unavoidable.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use a hand sanitizer.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Drink plenty of fluids, eat nutritious foods as tolerated, and rest as much as possible.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
• Seek medical attention for difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, rapid breathing, pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen, confusion or loss of consciousness, severe or persistent vomiting or diarrhea
• Do not return to school or work until you are fever-free for 24 hours (without fever-reducing medications).

Practice prevention:

Continue to practice illness prevention methods, i.e. frequent hand washing, social distancing, and wearing a face mask when encountering others. This can prevent COVID-19, flu and other seasonal infections such as the common cold, RSV (respiratory syncytial virus), and pneumonia.

For further advice consult with your healthcare provider or contact the Wellness Center at (845) 341-4870 or wellnesscenter@sunyorange.edu Monday thru Friday 8:30am-4:30pm.

Please share this information with family and friends.