August 9,  2023

Dear Graduate Student,

We hope this message finds you well. We are reaching out to provide you with important information regarding your UMD financial account and the student health insurance plan (SHIP).

To meet the University’s mandatory health insurance requirement, a charge of $2,334 has been applied to your UMD financial account for the student health insurance plan (SHIP). We wanted to bring this to your attention and offer guidance on how to proceed.

If you would like to retain SHIP, please activate your enrollment via the AHP website. If you don’t activate your coverage at this time, your enrollment will be activated after September 30, 2023. SHIP coverage will have a retroactive start date of August 1, 2023.

If you do not wish to retain SHIP, you must submit the required documentation to waive your enrollment by the deadline of September 30.  However, we strongly advise against waiting for the deadline for a number of reasons.

By obtaining an approved waiver promptly, you can avoid:

• A late fee: Your health insurance charge will be on your August 25th eBill that is due on September 20th after which late fees will be assessed.
• Financial aid refund reduction: A health insurance charge may reduce a financial aid refund if you are expecting to receive one. 

If you do not waive by the deadline of September 30, you will remain enrolled and will be responsible for paying the full premium amount. Visit umd.myahpcare.com to learn more about the coverage, and the University Health Center’s website to learn more about UMD’s health insurance requirement. We encourage you to communicate with your family about these important emails. 

How Do I Waive SHIP?
Students who have existing insurance and want to be credited for SHIP must provide proof of comparable insurance coverage and submit a waiver online. You must complete the waiver process each academic year. For returning students, waivers from previous years will not carry over to this school year.  WAIVE the insurance plan.

After a waiver is approved, it may take up to 7 business days for the insurance charge to be removed from the student financial account.

International students who are planning to purchase insurance should make sure that their plan meets ACA standards. The plan must be filed and approved in the United States and must comply with United States law. If you are unsure whether an insurance plan meets these standards, it would be best to budget for and be enrolled in SHIP.

Questions?

• All waiver related questions and policy coverage questions should be directed to Academic HealthPlans Customer Service at help.ahpcare.com or the University Health Center SHIP Office at uhc-insurance@umd.edu.
• For questions specifically about payments to your student account, contact Student Financial Services & Cashiering at billtalk@umd.edu. Please note that the Office of Student Financial Services does not have information on the timing of approved waiver credits on your account. 
•  Additional resources can be found on the Graduate School Health Insurance information website. 

Stay healthy and be well, Terp!

Alisa Abadinsky
Associate Controller, Student Financial Services & Cashiering
She/ Her/ Hers 

Spyridon S. Marinopoulos, M.D., M.B.A., F.A.C.P
Director, University Health Center, Chief Medical Officer, University of Maryland
He/Him/His

August 3, 2023

Dear Incoming Undergraduate and Transfer Students,

As you prepare to join our campus community, we want to provide you with important information about necessary items that must be completed before you begin your semester, including:

• required online wellness training, 
• up-to-date immunizations, and
• submissions for proof of health insurance.

These requirements are designed to keep you and members of our community healthy and safe.

Required Online Wellness Trainings

You are required to complete two online educational programs:

• You will receive login instructions from wellnesstraining@umd.edu when the pre-arrival course opens on Monday, August 7, 2023.
• The pre-arrival course must be completed by Monday, September 11, 2023.
• The post-arrival survey must be completed by Thursday, November 16, 2023.

2. You-MD: Incoming First Year and Transfer Student Substance Use Prevention Training (ELMS Platform)

• You will receive login instructions from wellnesstraining@umd.edu when the pre-arrival course opens on Monday, August 7, 2023.
• You must complete the course in full no later than Monday, September 11, 2023.

You must complete all sections of both trainings to be in compliance with this requirement. The courses will be accessible around the clock, and you will be able to stop, save your work, and return to the courses to complete them at your own pace. These programs equip you with knowledge and skills that will help you make responsible decisions regarding alcohol, avoid drug misuse and addiction, and recognize and respond to sexual assault and harassment.

We strongly encourage you to talk openly and often with your family about the complex issues addressed in these training sessions.

If you have questions about the required training, please contact wellnesstraining@umd.edu. Additional training resources are also available.

Proof of Immunizations

To ensure the health and safety of all students on our campus, the University requires that all students submit proof of immunizations by the first day of classes, Monday, August 28, 2023. For more information about required vaccines, please visit the immunizations page on our website, and click on “Submitting Your Immunization Forms.”

Once your immunization record is reviewed, you will receive an email about its status and whether additional information is required. Incomplete immunization submissions may affect your class registration status. For assistance or more information, please call the Immunization Clinic at 301.314.8114.

Proof of Health Insurance

As a reminder, all domestic and all international undergraduate students enrolled in six or more credit hours are automatically enrolled in the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) unless a waiver is submitted and approved at umd.myahpcare.com prior to the Saturday, September 30, 2023 deadline. You may need a family member to assist you with this process. Providing proof of health insurance is an annual process. You must provide proof each academic year.

Please visit the University Health Center website for information on the SHIP plan and the health insurance requirement.

All questions should be directed to Academic HealthPlans Customer Service or the University Health Center SHIP Office.

Thank you for attending to these important matters. These requirements represent our community values regarding the health and wellness of all Terps. We look forward to supporting you this upcoming academic year. We cannot wait to meet you soon!

Stay healthy and be well, Terp! 

Patricia A. Perillo, Ph.D.
Vice President for Student Affairs
She/ Her/ Hers

Spyridon Marinopoulos, M.D., M.B.A., F.A.C.P.
Director, University Health Center
Chief Medical Officer, University of Maryland
He/Him/His

July  2023

Dear New and Returning Graduate Students,

We hope that your summer is going well. We wanted to give you a friendly reminder that automatic enrollment and fee assessment for the student health insurance plan (SHIP) will begin in August.  If you have already enrolled in SHIP, or if you have already submitted your waiver, please disregard this email.

As you may already know, the University of Maryland requires all full-time registered graduate students to have health insurance. In order to ensure coverage, UMD automatically enrolls full-time registered graduate students in the university-sponsored Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) each year they are at UMD. Full time students are those who are registered for 48 or more units in a semester or 36 units in a 12-week term. Graduate assistants who are appointed by July 30, part-time students, non-degree-seeking students, students enrolled in certificate programs, exclusively online programs, or programs at the Shady Grove campus will not be automatically enrolled in SHIP.  They are eligible to purchase SHIP using the voluntary enrollment process.

Information about SHIP

• For Academic Year 2023-24, the annual premium is $2,334. 
• The SHIP coverage period is August 1, 2023 - July 31, 2024.
• The SHIP insurance carrier is United Healthcare. 
• To learn more about the SHIP coverage details, view the insurance flier or visit umd.myahpcare.com.
• Starting in August, full-time registered students will be charged for the annual SHIP, unless an insurance waiver is submitted.
• If you already have insurance, you must waive SHIP by the deadline of September 30.

Visit gradschool.umd.edu/health-insurance for more details. 

What do I need to do?

Students who do not have existing insurance should enroll in the annual SHIP.  The annual premium of $2,334 will be charged to the student's financial account starting in early August.
ENROLL in the student insurance plan HERE
 

Students who have existing insurance and do not want to be automatically enrolled in the school health insurance must provide proof of comparable insurance coverage and submit a waiver ONLINE at umd.myahpcare.com by September 30. Submit a waiver before July 31 to avoid the automatic charge.  If you submit a waiver after you the charge is assessed, please allow 5-7 business days for the insurance charge to be removed from your student account.  The waiver process must be done every year while at UMD.  
WAIVE the insurance plan HERE

International students who are planning to purchase insurance should make sure that their plan meets ACA standards. The plan must be filed and approved in the United States and must comply with United States law.  If you are unsure whether an insurance plan meets these standards, it would be best to budget for and be enrolled in SHIP.

Pay Attention to Insurance Related Emails and Reminders. The university has partnered with Academic Health Plans (AHP) to administer SHIP. They will email you instructions and reminders about the insurance requirement, upcoming charges, and the waiver process and deadline.

• These instructions will be sent to you directly from the AHP email address (info4students@myahpcare.com) to your UMD email address. Please don’t ignore these communications.
• You are encouraged to communicate with your family about these important emails.
• All questions should be directed to Academic HealthPlans Customer Service at help.ahpcare.com or the University Health Center SHIP Office at uhc-insurance@umd.edu.

Stay healthy and be well, Terp!

Spyridon S. Marinopoulos, M.D., M.B.A., F.A.C.P
Director, University Health Center
Chief Medical Officer, University of Maryland
He/Him

July 11, 2023

Dear Undergraduate Students,

We hope this message finds you well. We are reaching out to provide you with important information regarding your UMD financial account and the student health insurance plan (SHIP).
 

To meet the University’s mandatory health insurance requirement, a charge of $2,334 has been applied to your UMD financial account for the student health insurance plan (SHIP). We wanted to bring this to your attention and offer guidance on how to proceed.
 

If you would like to retain SHIP and activate your coverage by August 1, 2023, please enroll via the AHP website. If you don’t activate your coverage, you will be enrolled automatically after September 2023 with a retroactive date of August 1.

If you do not wish to retain SHIP, you must submit the required documentation to waive your enrollment by the deadline of September 30.  However, we strongly advise against waiting for the deadline for a number of reasons.

By obtaining an approved waiver promptly, you can avoid:

• An unnecessary late fee: The fall term bill is due on Friday, August 25. Student Financial Services will begin to assess late fees for unpaid charges on Monday, September 25. Completing the waiver promptly is advised to prevent this action.
• Losing a refund for excess financial aid: Financial aid recipients that expect to receive a refund from excess aid for the term may have those funds reduced or eliminated due to a non-waived health insurance charge on their account.  

If you do not waive by the deadline of September 30, you will remain enrolled and will be responsible for paying the full premium amount. Visit umd.myahpcare.com to learn more about the coverage, and the University Health Center’s website to learn more about UMD’s health insurance requirement. We encourage you to communicate with your family about these important emails. 

How Do I Waive SHIP?

Students who have existing insurance and want to be credited for SHIP must provide proof of comparable insurance coverage and submit a waiver online. You must complete the waiver process each academic year. For returning students, waivers from previous years will not carry over to this school year. WAIVE the insurance plan.

After a waiver is approved, it may take up to 7 business days for the insurance charge to be removed from the student financial account.

International students who are planning to purchase insurance should make sure that their plan meets ACA standards. The plan must be filed and approved in the United States and must comply with United States law. If you are unsure whether an insurance plan meets these standards, it would be best to budget for and be enrolled in SHIP.

Questions?

All waiver related questions and policy coverage questions should be directed to Academic HealthPlans Customer Service at help.ahpcare.com or the University Health Center SHIP Office at uhc-insurance@umd.edu.

For questions specifically about payments to your student account, contact Student Financial Services & Cashiering at billtalk@umd.edu. Please note that the Office of Student Financial Services does not have information on the timing of approved waiver credits on your account.

Stay healthy and be well, Terp!

Alisa Abadinsky
Associate Comptroller, Student Financial Services & Cashiering
She/ Her/ Hers

Spyridon Marinopoulos, M.D., M.B.A., F.A.C.P.
Director, University Health Center
Chief Medical Officer, University of Maryland
He/Him/His

June 12, 2023

Dear Incoming First Year and Transfer Students,

Welcome to the University of Maryland! Your health and well-being are our priority. As you prepare to join our campus community, we want to provide you with important information about the University of Maryland Health Insurance Requirement. All undergraduates enrolled in six or more credits are required to have health insurance. 

The purpose of the health insurance requirement is to ensure that our undergraduate students have adequate coverage in order to avoid unexpected medical bills. These costs can be prohibitive and lead students into debt and cause them to interrupt their studies. For example, the average cost of a 3-day hospital stay in the US can be around $30,000, and fixing a broken leg can cost $7,500.

Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP)

In order to ensure coverage, UMD automatically enrolls undergraduates who are registered for six or more credits in the university-sponsored Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) each year they are at UMD. SHIP is a reasonably priced insurance plan and provides coverage comparable to other premium insurance plans on the market. 

• For Academic Year 2023-24, the annual premium is $2,334 and will be automatically posted to your student account.
• The SHIP insurance carrier is United Healthcare. 
• You may begin using your insurance as early as August 1, 2023. 
• To learn more about the SHIP coverage details, visit: umd.myahpcare.com or see the attached SHIP Rate Card. 

Avoid Overlooking Your SHIP Charge

The party responsible for paying your tuition should regularly check your student bill for the SHIP premium charge. This may appear after the initial tuition and fees are posted. You will be responsible for payment unless you have a comparable insurance plan, and you have applied for and received an approved waiver. 

What if I Already Have Insurance?

In order to be unenrolled from SHIP and have the insurance charge removed from your student account, you must provide proof of comparable insurance coverage (“a waiver”) ONLINE at umd.myahpcare.com. Comparable insurance must be compliant with the standards of the US Affordable Care Act (ACA) and will require approval.

• You may apply for a waiver as early as June 15, 2023 and no later than September 30, 2023. 
• If you submit a waiver and it is approved, the charge of $2,334 will be removed from your bill or refunded to you. 
• If you do not waive by the deadline of September 30, you will remain enrolled and will be responsible for paying the full premium amount. 
• You must follow the same waiver process every year you are at UMD, and you will receive notification annually. 

Review the full schedule of key dates and deadlines for SHIP auto-enrollment and waiver on the University Health Center website.

International Students

International students who are planning to purchase insurance before arriving in the US should make sure that their plan meets ACA standards. The plan must be filed and approved in the United States and must comply with United States law.  If you are unsure whether an insurance plan meets these standards, it would be best to budget for and be enrolled in SHIP.

Pay Attention to Insurance Related Emails and Reminders 

The university has partnered with Academic Health Plans (AHP) to administer SHIP. They will email you instructions and reminders about the insurance requirement, upcoming charges, and the waiver process and deadline.

• These instructions will be sent to you directly from the AHP email address. (info4students@myahpcare.com) to your UMD email address. Please don’t ignore these communications.
• You are encouraged to communicate with your parents and/or family about these important emails. This process may require their assistance. 
• Questions should be directed to Academic HealthPlans Customer Service at help.ahpcare.com.

Other Health Requirements

We will be in touch later this summer with information about submitting your immunization records and completing the online wellness training. These requirements represent our community values regarding the health and wellness of all Terps and are designed to keep you and our community healthy and safe.

Stay healthy and be well, Terp!

Spyridon Marinopoulos, M.D., M.B.A., F.A.C.P.
Director, University Health Center
Chief Medical Officer, University of Maryland
He/Him/His

June 12, 2023

Dear Returning Students,

We hope your summer is off to a great start! Your health and well-being are our priority. As you prepare to return to campus, we want to remind you about the annual University of Maryland Health Insurance Requirement. All undergraduates enrolled in six or more credits are required to have health insurance. 
 

The purpose of the health insurance requirement is to ensure that our undergraduate students have adequate coverage in order to avoid unexpected medical bills. These costs can be prohibitive and lead students into debt and cause them to interrupt their studies. For example, the average cost of a 3-day hospital stay in the US can be around $30,000, and fixing a broken leg can cost $7,500.

Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP)

In order to ensure coverage, UMD automatically enrolls undergraduates who are registered for six or more credits in the university-sponsored Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) each year they are at UMD. SHIP is a reasonably priced insurance plan and provides coverage comparable to other premium insurance plans on the market.

• For Academic Year 2023-24, the annual premium is $2,334 and will be automatically posted to your student account.
• The SHIP insurance carrier is United Healthcare. 
• You may begin using your insurance as early as August 1, 2023. 
• To learn more about the SHIP coverage details, visit: umd.myahpcare.com or see the attached SHIP Rate Card.

Avoid Overlooking Your SHIP Charge

The party responsible for paying your tuition should regularly check your student bill for the SHIP premium charge. This may appear after the initial tuition and fees are posted. You will be responsible for payment unless you have a comparable insurance plan, and you have applied for and received an approved waiver. 

What if I already have SHIP and want to continue it?

To be enrolled sooner, go to umd.myahpcare.com and click “begin enrollment”. If no action is taken, your enrollment will be automatically processed after the waiver deadline.

What if I Already Have Insurance and Want to Unenroll from SHIP?

In order to be unenrolled from SHIP and have the insurance charge removed from your student account, you must provide proof of comparable insurance coverage (“a waiver”) ONLINE at umd.myahpcare.com. Comparable insurance must be compliant with the standards of the US Affordable Care Act (ACA) and will require approval.

• You may apply for a waiver as early as June 15, 2023 and no later than September 30, 2023. 
• If you submit a waiver and it is approved, the charge of $2,334 will be removed from your bill or refunded to you. 
• If you do not waive by the deadline of September 30, you will remain enrolled and will be responsible for paying the full premium amount. 
• You must follow the same waiver process every year you are at UMD, and you will receive notification annually.

Review the full schedule of key dates and deadlines for SHIP auto-enrollment and waiver on the University Health Center website.

International Students

International students who are planning to purchase insurance before arriving in the US should make sure that their plan meets ACA standards. The plan must be filed and approved in the United States and must comply with United States law.  If you are unsure whether an insurance plan meets these standards, it would be best to budget for and be enrolled in SHIP.

Pay Attention to Insurance Related Emails and Reminders

The university has partnered with Academic Health Plans (AHP) to administer SHIP. They will email you instructions and reminders about the insurance requirement, upcoming charges, and the waiver process and deadline.

• These instructions will be sent to you directly from the AHP email address. (info4students@myahpcare.com) to your UMD email address. Please don’t ignore these communications.
• You are encouraged to communicate with your parents and/or family about these important emails. This process may require their assistance. 
• Questions should be directed to Academic HealthPlans Customer Service at help.ahpcare.com.

These requirements represent our community values regarding the health and wellness of all Terps and are designed to keep you and our community healthy and safe.

Stay healthy and be well, Terp!

Spyridon Marinopoulos, M.D., M.B.A., F.A.C.P.
Director, University Health Center
Chief Medical Officer, University of Maryland
He/Him/His

June 2023

Dear New and Current Graduate Students,

We hope your summer is off to a great start! The fall semester is a few months away, but we wanted to share with you some important information about a new University of Maryland student health insurance requirement.

Beginning with academic year 2023-24, if you are a graduate student at the University of Maryland, College Park, who is full time (i.e., enrolled in 48 or more units in a semester or 36 units in a 12-week term), you will be required to have health insurance. To ensure coverage, the university will automatically enroll full-time graduate students in the university-sponsored Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) each year they are at UMD. Automatic enrollment was supported unanimously by the Graduate Student Government and the Graduate Council to maximize coverage while keeping premiums as low as possible.

Graduate assistants who are appointed by July 31, part-time students, non-degree-seeking students, and students enrolled in certificate programs, exclusively online programs, and/or programs at the Shady Grove campus will not be automatically enrolled in SHIP. They are eligible to purchase SHIP using the voluntary enrollment process.

Why Do I Need Health Insurance?
The purpose of the health insurance requirement is to ensure that our graduate students have affordable access to high-quality healthcare while avoiding unexpected medical bills. These costs can be prohibitive and lead students into debt or even bankruptcy, and cause them to interrupt their studies. For example, the average cost of a 3-day hospital stay in the US can be around $30,000, and fixing a broken leg can cost $7,500.
 

Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP)
SHIP is a reasonably priced insurance plan and provides coverage comparable to other premium insurance plans on the market. 

• For Academic Year 2023-24, the annual premium is $2,334 and will automatically be posted to your student account.
• The SHIP insurance carrier is United Healthcare. 
• You may begin using your insurance as early as August 1, 2023. 

To learn more about the Student Health Insurance Plan coverage details visit umd.myahpcare.com.

What if I Already Have Insurance?
You must waive SHIP by providing proof of comparable insurance coverage (“a waiver”) online at umd.myahpcare.com.  Comparable insurance must be compliant with the standards of the US Affordable Care Act (ACA) and will require approval.  

• You may apply for a waiver as early as June 15, 2023, and no later than September 30, 2023. 
• If you submit a waiver and it is approved, the charge of $2,334 will be removed from your student account. 
• If you do not waive by the deadline of September 30, you will remain enrolled and will be responsible for paying the full premium amount.
• You must follow the same waiver process every year you are at UMD, and you will receive notification annually. 

For more details about the health insurance policy and the automatic enrollment/waiver process for graduate students, please go to gradschool.umd.edu/health-insurance.

International Students
International graduate students who are planning to purchase insurance before arriving in the US should make sure that their plan meets ACA standards. The plan must be filed and approved in the United States and must comply with United States law.  If you are unsure whether an insurance plan meets these standards, it would be best to budget for and be enrolled in SHIP.

Plan Administration and Communications
SHIP is administered by Academic HealthPlans (AHP). Communication about the insurance requirement and how to submit a waiver will be sent to graduate students directly from the AHP email address (info4students@myahpcare.com) to your University of Maryland email account. Please do not ignore these communications, especially if you have other acceptable insurance and are planning to submit a waiver. Questions should be directed to Academic HealthPlans Customer Service at help.ahpcare.com.

Sincerely,

Steve Fetter
Associate Provost and Dean, The Graduate School

Susan-Ellis Dougherty
Director, International Student and Scholar Services

Spyridon S. Marinopoulos, M.D., M.B.A., F.A.C.P
Director, University Health Center
Chief Medical Officer, University of Maryland

February 9th, 2023

Dear Campus Community,

We are glad to have our full community back on campus and are pleased that with the start of the semester, our COVID-19 cases have remained low and, reassuringly, the new sub-variants of COVID-19 are not translating into severe illness for most people. Over the last two years, we have been able to lessen the burden of COVID-19 within our community, thanks in part to our students, faculty and staff having received the initial vaccine and booster.

At this time, COVID-19 vaccines and treatments are widely available, and most of the population has reached a sufficient level of immunity, thereby reducing the impact of the virus. Therefore, effective today, proof of COVID-19 vaccination will no longer be required at the University of Maryland. COVID-19 vaccines remain strongly recommended.

It is important to reiterate that COVID-19 is still with us. Receiving and staying up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines is the best way to protect yourself from getting very sick, being hospitalized, or dying from COVID-19. Receiving the updated bivalent booster can protect you against omicron sub-variants, and is especially important for individuals with certain medical conditions or a weakened immune system that may predispose them to more severe illness. We strongly encourage everyone to assess your personal COVID-19 health risk and take appropriate measures. If you are at high risk, you are strongly encouraged to seek advice from your personal physician. If you don't have a personal physician, you may contact the University Health Center at 301.314.8184.

As we continue to be in respiratory virus season, please continue to take preventive measures that will help keep you, your family and our campus community healthy and safe.

Best wishes for a successful semester!

Spyridon Marinopoulos, M.D., M.B.A., F.A.C.P.
Director, University Health Center
Chief Medical Officer, University of Maryland
He/Him/His

January 17, 2023

Dear Campus Community,

As we prepare for the start of the spring 2023 semester, I write to remind you of the COVID-19 protocols and guidelines currently in effect.

Pre-Semester Testing: To help prevent positive COVID-19 cases from reaching our campus, all students, faculty and staff are strongly encouraged to take a rapid antigen COVID-19 test within 24 hours before returning to campus for the spring semester. If you test positive, you should not return to campus. Find additional information about what to do if you test positive. Free self-test kits are available at the University Health Center (UHC) while supplies last. Self-test kits may also be ordered for free through covid.gov, or purchased at retailers and pharmacies in your area.

Vaccination: Please review our COVID-19 website regarding COVID-19 vaccine guidance.

Masks: Masks are a significant defense against the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses, so wearing a high-quality mask is recommended while indoors for added protection. Masks are required in all patient care areas, including the UHC.

Special Health Conditions: Individuals with a weakened or compromised immune system are more likely to get severely ill from COVID-19. If you are unvaccinated and have a weakened or compromised immune system, you are at the highest risk for contracting and becoming severely ill from the virus. We strongly recommend consulting with your personal physician and following CDC guidance for immunocompromised individuals.

Our decisions regarding COVID-19 campus protocols continue to be guided by the careful monitoring of COVID-19 in our local community and by campus and local health officials. We are focused on reducing virus transmission on our campus to minimize its impact on our learning and working environment.

As always, we appreciate everyone's collective work to keep ourselves and each other safe, and look forward to a healthy 2023!

Sincerely,

Spyridon Marinopoulos, M.D., M.B.A., F.A.C.P.
Director, University Health Center
Chief Medical Officer, University of Maryland
He/Him/His

November 11, 2022

Dear Campus Community,

In late October, I wrote to you about the importance of prevention as we entered the fall respiratory virus season. Over the last few weeks, the state of Maryland has seen an increase in a variety of respiratory viruses, including the flu, RSV and adenovirus. The Maryland Department of Health (MDH) is currently reporting respiratory illness activity in Maryland as "very high." As expected, the University Health Center is also seeing many patients with flu-like symptoms, such as fever, cough, congestion, sore throat, diarrhea and vomiting. The university is following all applicable protocols and advice from public health departments related to respiratory illnesses.

I want to remind everyone of the important precautions you should be taking to keep yourself and our campus community as healthy and safe as possible.

Precautions

• Get a flu shot and a COVID-19 booster. Schedule an appointment at myuhc.umd.edu. You may also get these vaccines at any community pharmacy, and at your doctor's office.
• Wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds and/or use hand sanitizer frequently.
• Clean high-touch surfaces in your room with antibacterial cleaner.
• Avoid sharing food, utensils, cups and water bottles.
• Be aware of people around you who are sick, and avoid contact with them, if possible.
• If you are sick, stay home and rest. If you cannot stay home, avoid crowded places to prevent spreading viruses to others. In particular, avoid friends or family who have underlying medical problems when you are feeling unwell. Resident students should consider going home to recover if their permanent home is within reasonable driving distance.
• Cover your cough and sneezes.
• Wear a well-fitting mask if you have to be around other people.

Most individuals with the flu or another respiratory virus will be able to manage their symptoms at home with rest, fluids and over-the-counter medications without the need to seek medical care for their symptoms.

However, it is important that people take action to prevent respiratory disease, especially people who are at higher risk of developing serious complications, like older adults, pregnant people, and individuals with chronic medical conditions or compromised immune systems.

If you have a medical condition that may predispose you to a more severe illness or weakens your immune system, or if you take medicines that weaken your immune system, please contact your personal physician for medical advice as soon as you start feeling unwell. If you don't have a personal physician, contact the University Health Center at 301.314.8180.

Additional Information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

The CDC provides a variety of information about respiratory viruses, including the flu, RSV and adenovirus. We are counting on all of you to keep our campus community healthy and safe. Stay healthy and be well!

Spyridon Marinopoulos, M.D., M.B.A., F.A.C.P.
Director, University Health Center
Chief Medical Officer, University of Maryland
He/Him/His

October 26th, 2022

Dear Campus Community,

I am writing with recommendations for how to prepare for the beginning of the cold and influenza ("flu") virus season. Experts are projecting an increase in flu activity this year. COVID-19 is still circulating in the community. We can help stop the spread of colds, flu, and other viruses on our campus if we continue to follow many of the preventive measures that are already in place and get our flu shot and COVID-19 booster.

Getting a Flu Shot

The time to get your flu shot is now. Schedule your flu shot at the University Health Center. You can also get the flu shot at any pharmacy in the community, or at your doctor's office. Getting the flu vaccine is one of the best actions you can take to prevent serious symptoms or complications from the flu. If you have certain health conditions that make you high-risk, it is especially important to get the flu shot as soon as possible, and seek medical care promptly if you do end up having the flu.

As COVID-19 continues to circulate, getting the flu shot is important to help keep you healthy from a possible co-infection with COVID-19 and the flu. Because we did not experience a true flu season last year, medical experts don't yet know how having both viruses at the same time might impact one's health.

Getting a COVID-19 Bivalent Booster

Immunity to COVID-19 wanes over time. I recommend that you receive a COVID-19 booster with the new bivalent vaccine that is known to be effective against the Omicron subvariants. Getting your booster is particularly important if you have certain medical conditions that place you at high risk or you are immunocompromised.  As I mentioned above, getting the bivalent COVID-19 booster is important to help keep you healthy from a possible co-infection with COVID-19 and the flu.

You can schedule a COVID-19 booster at the University Health Center. You can also get the booster at any pharmacy in the community, at your doctor's office, or at Maryland COVID-19 booster vaccination sites.

If you are planning to get the COVID-19 booster and the flu vaccine, studies have shown that you can get them both at the same time and you don't need to wait in-between shots. Please find additional information and a list of frequently asked questions on the on the UHC website.

Everyday Prevention

It is up to all of us to help us prevent the spread of viruses on our campus:

• Stay at home if you feel sick.
• Cover your cough and sneezes; wear a well-fitting mask if you have to be around others.
• Use an air filtration device if one is available to you; open the windows as the weather permits.
• Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer frequently.
• Clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces.
• Don't share food, utensils, water bottles, or cups.

Stay healthy and be well,

Spyridon Marinopoulos, M.D., M.B.A., F.A.C.P.
Director, University Health Center
Chief Medical Officer, University of Maryland
He/Him/His