York provides H1N1 information for students, staff and faculty

With the second wave of the H1N1 influenza (swine flu) hitting the city, York University is monitoring the outbreak and providing up-to-date information for students, faculty and staff through its H1N1 Influenza Web site, including a list of vaccination clinics.

The Public Health Agency of Canada will be providing the H1N1 vaccine to all persons in Canada through mass inoculation clinics being scheduled, administered and operated by the municipal public health agencies across the country. There is no cost for the vaccination. For directions to the closest H1N1 vaccination clinics from either the Keele or Glendon campuses by public transportation, click here, or visit the H1N1 Vaccination Clinics Web site for a list of available clinics in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).

In addition, York’s H1N1 Influenza Web site provides the latest information for the University community from the Public Health Agency of Canada, tips on how to protect against contracting the flu, updates about related activities at York, FAQs, as well as instructions for undergraduate and graduate students on how to report their absence from class due to H1N1 or flu-like symptoms.

Students who are recovering at home with H1N1 or flu-like symptoms should report their absence through the York Registrar’s Office Student Attendance Reporting Tool or by leaving a message at 416-736-5903 (takes messages only).

In addition to updating their attendance through the Student Attendance Reporting Tool, students still need to communicate with their course directors to make alternate arrangements for assignments and test due dates, as well as adhere to all regular protocols related to academic and financial expectations.

York’s Senate Executive Committee is asking members of the community with flu-like symptoms (including fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue) to remain or return home when they are ill. In view of this guidance, individual students suffering from flu-like symptoms will not normally be required to submit a medical note in support of reasonable requests for deferred standing or petitions based on absences resulting from flu-like symptoms. All other documentation required to support a request or petition, however, will still be necessary. More information about the Senate Executive Committee recommendations can be found by clicking here.

The following are the links to the municipal public health Web sites that list all of the H1N1 vaccination clinics being held within the GTA.

For more information, students can visit the York Registrar’s Office H1N1 Information for Students Web site or the York H1N1 Information Page on Facebook.