Health Services
The mission of Rhode Island College Health Services is to provide confidential and holistic primary health care to enhance the academic potential of our students.
Each student encounter is an opportunity to educate about prevention and risk reduction to promote life-long healthy choices. Health Services is committed to providing high quality, accessible and cost effective services in a non-judgmental atmosphere that values diversity and respects individuality.
Office Hours
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Effective Fall, 2018: |
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Monday - Friday |
8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. |
| Closed Saturday, Sunday and Holidays |
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Summers: |
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Monday - Friday |
7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. |
| Phone: (401) 456-8055 |
Fax: (401) 456-8890 |
Information regarding:
Influenza
Meningococcal Disease
PrEP: Pre-exposure Prophylaxis to Prevent HIV
National Investigation into Vaping and Lung Injury
Influenza Vaccine
If a RIC student has a RI-based health insurance OR the Student Health Insurance Plan, you can make an appointment at Health Services for a flu shot at NO cost. If you are unsure or they have questions about where to get the flu shot, please call Health Services and we can direct you to the right place. (401) 456-8055
What is the difference between a cold and flu?
Information from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
Meningococcal Disease
Please call RIC Health Services to learn about where you can receive your meninigitis vaccines. There are TWO vaccines that fight against different strains of this disease: Meningitis B Vaccine AND the Menactra vaccine. These vaccines are strongly recommended for all students. Menactra is a mandatory vaccine for all residential students.
Meningococcal disease can refer to any illness caused by the type of bacteria called Neisseria meningitidis, also known as meningococcus. These illnesses are often severe and include infections of the lining of the brain and spinal cord (meningitis) and bloodstream infections (bacteremia or septicemia). Meningococcal disease is treatable with antibiotics, but quick
medical attention is extremely important. It Can mimic the symptoms of influenza. Possible signs and symptoms in anyone older than the age of 2 include:
- Sudden high fever
- Stiff neck
- Severe headache that seems different than normal
- Headache with nausea or vomiting
- Confusion or difficulty concentrating
- Seizures
- Sleepiness or difficulty waking
- Sensitivity to light
- No appetite or thirst
- Skin rash (sometimes, such as in meningococcal meningitis)
Transmission: Meningococcal disease is contagious, and is generally transmitted through direct exchange of respiratory and throat secretions by close personal contact, such as coughing, sharing drinks, kissing and being in close proximity for an extended period. Fortunately, none of the bacteria that cause meningococcal disease are as contagious as the common cold or the flu, and they are not spread by casual contact or by simply breathing the air where a person with the disease has been.
Resources:
https://www.cdc.gov/meningitis/index.html
https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/mening/public/index.html
"If I had a meningitis vaccine when I was younger, do I still need a Meningitis B vaccine?"
Most likely. Meningitis B is NOT the same meningitis that most children are vaccinated against as adolescents.
"Have there been outbreaks of Meningitis B?"
While outbreaks of Meningitis B are rare, they are very serious. Between 2013 and 2015, there were four outbreaks of Meningitis B disease reported on US college campuses. These ultimately led to two deaths.
https://meningitisbactionproject.org/download-resources
PrEP to Prevent HIV: Call Health Services to learn more. (401) 456-8055
Pre-exposure prophylaxis (or PrEP) is when people at risk for HIV take daily medicine to prevent HIV. PrEP can stop HIV from taking hold and spreading throughout your body. When taken daily, PrEP is highly effective for preventing HIV from sex or injection drug use. "Studies have shown that PrEP reduces the risk of getting HIV from sex by about 99% when taken daily. Among people who inject drugs, PrEP reduces the risk of getting HIV by at least 74% when taken daily."
https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/risk/prep/
