Many campuses will host vaccination clinics where university administrators hope students will visit. Photo: Nova Scotia Government

H1N1

H1N1 not hitting class attendance

“Since the province is going to start tracking only hospitalized cases it’s really important the school tracks their own cases.”

Despite the increasing H1N1 cases in Nova Scotia, universities in the Halifax Regional Municipality are not seeing a drop in attendance.

Dr. Heather Schellinck, the Coordinator of Introductory Psychology at Dalhousie University says that there hasn’t been a big change in attendance. Schellinck co-ordinates first year psych programs for about 600 students but hasn’t noticed anything out of the ordinary. “I’ve only received one or two emails since September. Yesterday I received five, that was the most all year.”

Charles Crosby, a spokesperson for Dalhousie, says the university is tracking its absentee rates. “Since the province is going to start tracking only hospitalized cases it’s really important the school tracks their own cases.”

Crosby has seen the statistics and said there is really no appreciable difference in attendance, but stresses that it’s only early, “We do expect it to change…we may have actual numbers next week but right now nothing is out of the ordinary.”

Crosby also stressed the school’s preparedness to deal with H1N1 on campus. “Students are required to report to their profs any flu-like symptoms and the professors report that upwards.”

Like other local universities Dalhousie is suspending it policy of requiring doctor’s notes from students out sick, “a medical professional suggested we do this, doctors can’t write notes for everyone plus it speeds up the process of reporting the case.”

Preparedness city-wide

Saint Mary’s University is also reporting normal attendance numbers. Blake Patterson, SMU’s Public Affairs Officer, said that like Dal there is, “really no significant decline in attendance,” but it has emergency plans and is meeting regularly to make sure they are ready. “We are focusing on communications, letting people know what they can do to prevent getting sick,” and with vaccine clinics coming to Nova Scotia, Patterson says they are trying to inform people about how to get vaccinated.

Every university in HRM is providing free information on their website about how to prevent getting sick and what to look for if you think you have contracted H1N1. Dal’s “Flu Prevention & Care” web page urges students to use proper sneezing and coughing etiquette and shows them how to properly wash their hands. SMU provides similar information, with clinic dates taking place at the university.

Schellinck is hopeful that students will take heed of these suggestions, “All we can do is encourage students to get the vaccine. Any chance to do this we will. I think they are becoming more aware of it and will hopefully be vaccinated.”

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