Administrators of Institutions of Higher Education

Flu Prevention at Colleges and Universities

Administrators of Institutions of Higher Education

Colleges and universities provide many ways for people to interact. Campuses are filled with classrooms and dormitories, where students are close together. Institutions of higher education support many activities and large events for community members and neighbors. There are many opportunities for respiratory illnesses like the flu to spread.

Getting vaccinated against the flu every year is the best way to prevent seasonal flu. Nonpharmaceutical Interventions (NPIs) can also help people protect themselves and others from getting and spreading the flu. NPIs are especially important during outbreaks of pandemic flu. A pandemic flu outbreak occurs when a new flu virus appears among people. Because it’s a new virus, we have little or no immunity to it. This allows the virus to spread quickly from person to person around the world. It may take months before an effective vaccine is developed.

  • What you can do personally (Personal NPIs): Stay home when you are sick. Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue. Wash your hands often with soap and water.
  • What communities can do (Community NPIs): Implement social distancing interventions in schools, workplaces, and at events.
  • What everyone can do to keep the environment germ-free (Environmental NPIs): Clean frequently touched surfaces and objects like door knobs.
  • CDC provides educational resources and training on how to incorporate personal, community, and environmental NPIs into your pandemic flu plans.

The actions you take and the plans you make today make a difference. Here are some important steps for protecting yourself, your staff, and your students from getting and spreading the flu both on and off campus: