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Health Services is committed to informing students about important public health issues which could impact the Skidmore community. At this time, we would like to address four issues of relevance to you as you begin this new academic year. For further information on these and other current health related topics, please visit the Health Services’ website, or feel free to call us at 580-5550 with any questions or concerns you may have.

Prescription Contraceptive Fees
Health Services has always endeavored to provide students with a variety of the most reasonably priced quality birth control available and has managed to keep costs relatively stable. However, over the past few years this effort has become increasingly difficult as the pharmaceutical market experienced substantial increases in the cost for obtaining contraceptives, both for brand names and the newer generic equivalents. Health Services’ charges for birth control as of the start of the 2007 fall semester are as follows: Student costs for the purchase of all forms of oral contraceptives (birth control pills) and Plan B (Emergency Contraceptive) from Health Services will  be $20.00 per cycle, the cost of Nuva Ring will be $30.00 per ring.

Bacterial Meningitis Vaccine
Bacterial meningitis is an extremely rare but potentially fatal infection that causes inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Unlike the much less serious viral form of the disease, bacterial meningitis can be treated with antibiotics, but if not treated early, symptoms may rapidly progress and lead to death or permanent disabilities. Approximately 10% of individuals infected die from bacterial meningitis, according to the national Center for Disease Control (CDC).

Even though anyone can get the disease, first year college students who live in residential halls are particularly at risk. Therefore, public health officials recommend that all college students receive the meningitis vaccine (Menactra), which offers protection against four of the five strains of meningococcal bacteria. Skidmore highly recommends (but does not require) that students receive this vaccine. If you were unable to obtain the vaccination through your primary care provider and would like to receive it, the vaccination is available at Health Services for a fee of $90.00.

Vaccine for Pertussis (Whooping Cough)

Pertussis (whooping cough) can be a very serious disease, especially for infants. Although adults are less likely than infants to become seriously ill with pertussis, most make repeated visits for medical care and miss work, especially when Pertussis is not initially considered as a reason for their long-term cough. In addition, adults with pertussis have been shown to be an important source of infection to infants with whom they have close contact. Adults with pertussis can have complications such as pneumonia (up to 5% of cases) and rib fracture from coughing (4% of cases). In 2004, the highest numbers of cases of pertussis were reported to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) since 1959. Adults (age 19-64 years) accounted for 27% of these cases.

Until recently, there was no Pertussis vaccine available to prevent whooping cough in adults. However, as a result of the surge in numbers of cases of whooping cough in recent years and the potential for transmission by adults to infants, an adult formulation of Pertussis vaccine was developed. It is currently offered as part of the “Tdap” (Adacel) vaccine. Pertussis is not available as a separate, single vaccine.

“Tdap”

(Adacel) is similar to Td (tetanus-diphtheria) vaccine, which is routinely given to adolescents and adults as a booster shot every 10 years.  Tdap (Adacel) offers the same protection against tetanus and diphtheria diseases as Td vaccine, with the additional protection against Pertussis. A single dose of Adacel is recommended for adolescents 11 or 12 years of age, or in place of one Td booster in older adolescents and adults age 19 through 64. Adacel is an “inactivated” vaccine, which means it does not contain live bacteria or virus. This vaccine is recommended by the CDC, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), and the American College Health Association (ACHA). Health Services offers the Adacel vaccine for a fee of $40.00.

Pandemic Influenza
It is likely that you have heard news reports about the possibility of a worldwide outbreak (a “pandemic”) of influenza from a strain of the virus commonly referred to as the “bird flu.” Globally, scientists and health care professionals are monitoring the situation closely, paying particular attention to the H5N1 avian influenza virus which is prevalent throughout Asia and in parts of Europe and Africa. Although H5N1 primarily affects birds, some humans have been infected. The virus does not currently spread among humans, but there is concern that viral mutations could result in easy transmission among humans leading to a pandemic.

An interdepartmental team at Skidmore has been working on a plan to address this potential health risk. In the event that a widespread outbreak of influenza threatens the Skidmore community, we will be prepared with an emergency response plan. Should an outbreak occur, all decisions will be made in consultation with public health experts and with careful consideration of what is in the best interest for the health and safety of Skidmore students and employees. Please refer to Skidmore's pandemic plan website for more information.