Eduardo J. Padrón
President
Office of the President
300 N.E. Second Avenue
Miami, Florida 33132-2297
305-237-3316
epadron@mdc.edu
Message From the President
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Preparing for flu season: prevention tips and resources
As we approach the official start of flu season on Oct. 1, I would like to share a few resources that the College has developed to promote awareness, prevention and safety. First and foremost, MDC has launched a Flu Webpage to house all of the important information you will need to access this flu season. Please bookmark http://www.mdc.edu/flu and refer to the site periodically for the latest guidance and news on seasonal flu and H1N1 (swine) flu.
Prevention tips
You may have heard that wearing a disposable mask to work will decrease the risk of flu infection; however, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) state that facemasks are actually limited in their effectiveness. The most important steps you can take this flu season are to practice good personal hygiene, maintain clean working and living environments and get vaccinated.
Vaccination information
Seasonal flu shots will be provided to full-time employees by VaxCare with the cost underwritten by Aetna, the College's health insurance carrier. The schedule for vaccinations is listed below. Please visit http://www.mdc.edu/flu in the near future for information on how to register to receive a seasonal flu shot.
Monday, Oct. 5, 2009
Wolfson Campus: 9 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Homestead Campus: 12 p.m. - 1 p.m.
West Campus: 2 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2009
Kendall Campus: 9 a.m. - 11 a.m.
InterAmerican Campus: 12 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Monday, Oct. 12, 2009
Medical Center Campus: 9 a.m. - 10 a.m.
North Campus: 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Hialeah Campus: 2 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Part-time employees may receive seasonal flu shots for approximately $25 at several local pharmacies and grocery stores, including Walgreens, Publix and CVS.
Please note that the H1N1 flu vaccine is not expected to become available until late October and that the Florida Department of Health and county health departments throughout the state are responsible for coordinating the H1N1 flu vaccination process. For more information, please visit http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/.
For information on the College's attendance policies and procedures during flu season, please consult the Faculty/Staff FAQ's. General public information is also available in English, Spanish and Creole by calling the Florida Flu Info Line at: 1-877-352-3581.
Thank you for your commitment to flu prevention. Let's do all we can to stay healthy during flu season.
Eduardo