Public Health on Campus
The health and safety of our campus community are Hamilton’s top priorities. This page outlines relevant public health updates from the College and other trusted resources.
Immunizations at the Health Center
The Basics
- We stock common immunizations, both required, recommended, and other available options
- We can obtain and administer many location-specific immunizations needed for study abroad and student travel, like Typhoid, Japanese encephalitis, and rabies pre-exposure immunizations
- We encourage students to contact us with any questions they have related to their immunization status or their health in general
- Immunizations, including travel-related vaccinations, are covered for students enrolled in the Hamilton student health insurance plan (SHIP) at the time of administration
- Vaccines have been rigorously studied and are safe. Mild reactions may occur and typically resolve after a few days.
Why get vaccinated?
- Support the overall health and well-being of individuals
- Help to protect the larger campus community
Protect against severe illness, medical complications, and mortality for many different diseases. - Some vaccines help protect against human papillomavirus (HPV) related cancers.
- Meningococcal ACWY
- Per NYS public health law section 2167, all enrolled students should have received one dose of the meningitis ACWY vaccine within the last 5 years and after the age of 16
- Protects against four of the most common serogroups of meningococcal disease, which may be life-threatening, as it causes a rapidly spreading infection that is difficult to treat
- Since Hamilton College is a residential campus, students whose last dose is more than five years old will be asked to review the need for a booster dose. We want to ensure continued compliance with the public health guidelines since students have extended time residing in congregate settings here.
- MMR
- NYS Public Health Law 2165 mandates that all college students provide proof of immunity that they received two doses of the MMR vaccine, administered at least 28 days apart, with the first dose being administered no earlier than four days before the student’s first birthday
- Protects against measles, mumps, and rubella, which are all highly contagious viral infections that have serious complications associated with them
- Tdap
- A Tdap booster dose is recommended every ten years
- Protects against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (whooping cough)
- This differs from Td, which does not offer protection against whooping cough
- Human Papillomavirus or HPV
- A 3-dose series for individuals over the age of 15
- Protects against many cancers caused by the 9 most virulent strains of HPV, not limited to but including: cervical cancer, vaginal cancer, vulvar cancer, penile cancer, anal cancer, and oropharyngeal cancer. It can also help prevent genital warts
- Influenza
- Annual vaccination
- Ideally administered by the end of October, but it can be beneficial even if received later
- Protects against influenza viruses to help reduce the risk of illness, hospitalization, and death from the flu. Although some vaccinated individuals may still get sick, the vaccine can lessen the severity of the illness.
- Meningococcal B (Bexsero Brand*)
- A 2 or 3-dose series, depending on your exposure risk
- Protects against Neisseria meningitidis group B infections, which, when left untreated, may lead to campus outbreaks including potential complications like hearing loss, brain damage, and even death
- Although this is not required by NYS public health law, we strongly recommend that all new students consider getting vaccinated for protection from meningitis B.
* If you previously received a Trumenba brand meningococcal B vaccination and are due to receive a booster dose, we will work with you to get this administered off-campus since meningococcal B immunizations are not interchangeable. The same brand of imm must be administered for the entire vaccination series.
- Hepatitis A
- A 2-dose series
- Protects against hepatitis A, a liver infection spread through contaminated food, water, or close contact with an infected person
- Hepatitis B
- A 2 or 3-dose series, depending on the brand administered
- Protects against acute and chronic hepatitis B liver infections
- Japanese encephalitis
- A 2-dose series
- Prevents Japanese encephalitis, which may cause fever, headache, neck stiffness, brain swelling (encephalitis), seizures, coma, and death in about 1 out of every 4 people infected with it
- Occurs mainly in many parts of Asia and the Western Pacific, and is spread by the bites from infected mosquitos
- Poliomyelitis
- 3-dose series for previously unvaccinated adults
- Most adults completed the full series of vaccinations during their childhood
- We can review your risk and assist with getting you vaccinated should the need arise, based on your health history
- Rabies
- Pre-exposure (PrEP)
- A 2-dose series, if warranted
- Administered based on risk
- Protects individuals who work directly with animals that could have rabies and travelers to parts of the world where rabies is common
- Post-exposure (PEP)
- A 4-dose series of vaccines in addition to thorough wound cleansing and administration of human rabies immune globulin (HRIG)
- Only administered from the direction of the Oneida County Health Department (OCHD)
- Pre-exposure (PrEP)
- Typhoid
- A single injection administered at least 2 weeks before travel
- Repeated doses are recommended every 2 years for people who remain at risk
- Help to prevent typhoid fever, a bacterial infection spread through contaminated food or drinks
- Typhoid fever can cause life-threatening illness with symptoms like persistent high fever, weakness, stomach pain, headache, diarrhea, constipation, cough, loss of appetite, and in some people death. Symptoms may be prolonged without treatment.
- Recommended for travelers to parts of the world where typhoid is common
Naloxone (Narcan) Availability
Hamilton recently expanded the availability of naloxone, commonly known as Narcan, by installing cabinets stocked with the lifesaving medication in all residence halls. Naloxone can reverse the fatal effects of an opioid overdose, and research underscores the life-saving potential of naloxone accessibility.
Contact
Contact Name
Health Center
Office Location
Johnson Center for Health and Wellness: healthcenter@hamilton.edu
Phone
Fax
Hours
M
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Office: 8:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Phone: 8:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Phone: 8:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Tu
–
Office: 8:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Phone: 8:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Phone: 8:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.
W
–
Office: 8:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Phone: 8:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Phone: 8:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Th
–
Office: 8:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Phone: 8:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Phone: 8:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Fr
–
Office: 8:30 - 11:45 a.m.; 1-4 p.m.
Phone: 8:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.; 1 - 4:30 p.m.
(closed from 8:30-9:30 a.m. on the first Thursday)
Phone: 8:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.; 1 - 4:30 p.m.
(closed from 8:30-9:30 a.m. on the first Thursday)
