Author Profile

Jennifer Berkman

http://www.salisbury.edu/health

Institution: Salisbury University

Affiliation: Director

Department: Student Health Services

City: Salisbury

State: Maryland

Country: United States

Jennifer Berkman, M.Ed., has been director of Student Health Services at Salsibury University since 1995. She has been responsible for authoring the Pandemic Flu Plan for the University and managing the H1N1 Pandemic, in addition to all communicable disease events affecting the campus population. Student Health Services began serving as a survellience site for the state's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, tracking and reporting influenza activity, during the H1N1 pandemic and continues to serve in this capacity. Student Health Services is a primary care, ambulatory facility serving the students, faculty and staff of the institution.

Recent Posts

Novel virus, atypical risk group: understanding young adults in college as an under-protected population during H1N1 2009

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Objective: To examine illness/vaccination perceptions of and intentions to vaccinate for seasonal influenza (SI) and 2009 H1N1 in the college setting.

Participants: 1190 adults [M=23.5 years (SD=9.5)] from a university in the North-Eastern U.S.

Methods: We deployed a web-based survey via campus email just prior to the 2009 H1N1 vaccine release.

Results: Younger adults (18-24 years) had lesser understanding of the difference between influenza types, and they reported less regular and current SI vaccination compared to older adults (25-64 years). Younger respondents perceived lesser likelihood of illness from, but attributed greater severity to H1N1 versus SI. Regularity of SI vaccination and perceived vaccine efficacy were the strongest predictors of intent to vaccinate against H1N1, followed by perceived likelihood of illness and confidence in what experts know about vaccine safety.

Conclusions: Young adults in college may require additional information during novel influenza pandemics. Measuring perceptions and past vaccination behaviors may facilitate targeting of preventive efforts in the college setting.