Updates from Health Services

Information about COVID-19 is changing rapidly, so please look at the CDC website for up-to-date news and more information about COVID-19, related travel advisories, and frequently asked questions.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health also has an updated resource page here.

Updated April 21, 2021

Covid-19 Vaccine Clinic On-Campus

This Sunday, April 25 from 9 a.m.–3 p.m.

We have arranged a Covid-19 vaccination clinic for all members of the Hampshire College community. The clinic will take place this Sunday, April 25, from 9 a.m.–3 p.m. at the Robert Crown Center. All currently enrolled students and all employees of Hampshire College are eligible to be vaccinated at this clinic. Students will be given priority if appointments begin to run low, but we expect our provider (Pelmeds) to have enough vaccine for all interested members of the Hampshire community.

There is no charge to anyone for the vaccine. You will need to provide your medical insurance information so that the provider can cover their expenses. Please bring a printed and completed copy of the consent and insurance information form with you to your appointment.

To schedule a vaccine appointment for Sunday (4/25), go to the CoVerified website. Enter your Hampshire email as log-in (e.g. xyz17@hampshire.edu). It will route you to the Hampshire log-in window where you will put in your username and password. Then go to "Schedule Test" on the left navigation bar. When scheduling your test, make sure to select "Covid-19 vaccination" under the "Select a Test Type" drop down menu. If you have never used CoVerified, you will first have to go through the steps outlined in the "Setting up CoVerified" portion of the Asymptomatic Testing and CoVerified FAQ. If you have trouble setting up CoVerified or scheduling an appointment, please email c19testing@hampshire.edu.

You must use the CoVerified website to make a vaccination appointment – the phone app will not work for this purpose.

The site staff would greatly appreciate you making every effort to schedule an appointment. However, if you are unable to make an appointment, walk-ins will be accepted as space is available.

When you come to the RCC, you will need to bring your medical insurance card/information and the completed consent form required by the provider. The current Pelmeds consent form does not provide appropriate options for gender identification; I have raised this issue with them, but it appears that everyone will need to use this version of the form for Sunday’s clinic.

The clinic will be giving the Pfizer vaccine. The vaccine will be administered by medically qualified staff.

Finally, another vaccination clinic will take place on campus in the week before commencement in order to provide second doses at the correct time. If you leave campus before the second clinic you will still be able to get a second vaccine dose by making an appointment with any provider – you are not required to get both doses from the same source.

Students

Health and Counseling will re-open after January break for appointments on Monday, January 25, 2021. Regular semester hours are Monday- Friday, 9 a.m.-Noon and 1- 4:30 p.m. The number for Health and Counseling Services is 413.559.5458.

Students staying in the Amherst area during the January break can access telehealth and in-person medical care, including symptomatic COVID-19 testing at UMass University Health Services. After-hours medical advice is available 24/7 through UMass Triage Nurse at 413.577.5229 or you can call the COVID-19 UMass Hotline at 413.577.5128. Mental health support is available by calling 413.559.5458 and choosing option #1.

All clinical care at Health and Counseling is by scheduled appointment. Appointments are either telehealth or in-person as needed. Medical care includes the usual student health care, as well as COVID-19 PCR testing for symptomatic students or students identified as close contacts of someone positive for COVID-19. All students will be required to test upon arrival, as well as weekly at “Testing Tuesday” on-campus throughout the semester.

Employees

Please contact your primary care provider(s) for medical and mental health care.

When you are not able to work for COVID-19-related circumstances affecting you or a family member, please contact Hampshire Human Resources (email jtHR@hampshire.edu) and your supervisor. Our employee assistance program, e4Health, has many benefits and supports for all employees and their immediate family members—800.828.6025.

Health and Counseling Services hours:

Opens January 25, 2021: Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–noon and 1–4:30 p.m.

After-hours mental health or medical support:

Available by calling 413.559.5458 and choosing option #1 for mental health and #2 for medical advice for both on- and off-campus students. UMass University Health Services provides back up triage medical coverage when HCHCS is closed. Call 413.577.5229 for 24/7 nursing advice or 413.577.5128 for the COVID-19 hotline.

Before coming to the Health Services building for appointments or to pick up a prescription, please call HCHS at 413.559.5458.

Hampshire College nurse practitioners are on-site at Hampshire College available for in-person or telehealth visits by appointment for both on- and off-campus students. Fully remote students are not eligible for medical care at Hampshire College. Medical care is designed for the safety of patients and health care providers. Please call 413.559.5458 to schedule an appointment or to speak with a nurse practitioner about your symptoms and concerns.

Mental Health providers are available for telehealth by appointment for students who are on campus or living locally. For remote students living outside the area, we will support you in finding mental health care in your home community and help you with resources for self-care. Please check here for more details about mental health care and resources.

Common Symptoms of COVID-19 are fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body ache, headache, new loss of taste or smell, congestion, sore throat, nausea or vomiting, and diarrhea. People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms usually appear 2-10 days after exposure to the virus. If you have any COVID-19 symptoms, get a test as soon as possible, and immediately avoid close contact with others. Stay out of class and work. 

Symptoms may be mild, may develop over a few days, or come on suddenly and feel very much like having the flu or a common cold.

If you have concerns about illness or symptoms, please call to discuss with medical triage, either at Hampshire 413.559.5458 or with your medical provider at home. You will be directed to the appropriate health facility for your medical needs.

If you have concerns about illness or symptoms, please call to discuss with medical triage, either at Hampshire 413.559.5458, with UMass 24/7 triage 413.577.5229, or the COVID-19 hotline at 413.577.5128

If you have severe symptoms, particularly severe difficulty breathing, call 911 for emergency response and an ambulance.

Prevention of COVID-19 includes:

• Limiting all close contacts and physical distancing: This means staying at least six feet away from people who are not in your household, mod, or hallway and keeping your number of social contacts small. Most COVID-19 cases are spread through small household gatherings.
• Wearing a face covering or mask that covers your nose and mouth at all times when outside your private room or office. Students who share a mod or hallway and who have community agreements in place, may choose to not wear masks in their private common spaces.
• Disinfecting high-touch items such as your cell phone, doorknobs, phones, keyboards, faucets, countertops, as well as  careful  hand washing or cleaning with hand sanitizer especially after touching any commonly touched or shared items
• Getting enough sleep and trying to de-stress. We are in a high anxiety time. Prioritizing sleep can help keep your immune system strong and ready to respond to illness. Outside exercise such as walking with a six-foot distance from others is recommended.
• Quit smoking and vaping.  COVID-19 in its most severe form impacts the lungs and breathing. Smoking and vaping make your lungs less healthy. Vaping has also been associated with other severe respiratory illness.
• Continuing to connect with people who care about you, even if you can’t be with them in person. Social support is important to good health.
• Being  careful and cautious about use of substances such as alcohol or cannabis. These substances can lower inhibitions and make people less likely to use COVID-safe practices.