We hope you had your share of summer fun! Student Health Services (SHS) looks forward to supporting you and your health needs throughout the 2023-2024 academic year. Please check out our Introduction to SHS Slides for an overview and introduction to services at SHS.   SHS kicks off the Fall Semester on August 14, 2023. You can call to make an appointment for all your health needs, including physicals and immunizations. Our number is 909-621-8222.   You can upload medical records using this Box link or directly to your Online health portal here.  SHS is open Saturday, August 19, from 8:00am to 1:00pm for our Move-In Immunization Clinic. Please call to schedule an appointment. And remember, if you are on campus and need an immunization, please call to schedule an appointment during one of our regular weekday clinics.  SHS is excited to join many 5C orientation events over the next several weeks. We look forward to meeting you and your families.   See you soon!  Dr. Stephanie Long  Director, Student Health Services 

Dear 7C Community, I wanted to share with you that effective Monday, March 13, 2023, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LACDPH) has updated its isolation and close contact guidance. Accordingly, we are also updating some of our campus procedures. On campus, effective Monday, March 13, 2023: COVID-19 cases in isolation can end their isolation after five days (so, on Day 6) WITHOUT any antigen testing needed as long as: Symptoms are not present or are mild and improving, AND The case has been fever-free for 24 hours (without the use of any fever-reducing medication) Wearing a well-fitted mask will continue to be required around others, even after isolation ends, especially in indoor settings, for ten days. If fever is still present, isolation continues until 24 hours after the fever resolves If symptoms, other than fever, are not improving, isolation continues until symptoms are improving or until after Day 10 This shorter isolation period will lead to fewer academic and workplace disruptions and has been anxiously awaited in Los Angeles County since CDC updated its isolation guidance. Close Contacts are still strongly recommended, but no longer required, to: Wear a well-fitting mask indoors around others through Day 10 [...]

Student Health Services (SHS) at The Claremont Colleges is committed to providing culturally competent and inclusive services to all students under our care. As part of that commitment, our leadership team continually looks for opportunities to improve and expand our current suite of services. As such, SHS is pleased to announce the availability of gender affirming care services in our clinic, starting in January 2023 when students return for the spring semester. Trained healthcare providers at SHS will be able to prescribe most of the common gender affirming hormonal regimens. They will also be able to provide information for, and referrals to, local resources for complicated hormonal regimens and non-hormonal gender affirmation services. Students who are interested in starting their gender affirmation process, and even those who have already begun this process with an outside provider, are encouraged to contact SHS starting in January for a consultation with one of our trained healthcare providers. See details and learn more by visiting our Gender Affirming Care webpage.

 Dear 7C students,  The beginning of another academic year is now upon us. Omicron variants and subvariants continue to cause COVID-19 infections across the world. However, our knowledge in the prevention and treatment of this disease continues to expand and thankfully, the burden of this disease in terms of severe illness, hospitalization, and death continues to diminish. Those who have kept “up to date” on their COVID-19 vaccinations, including all recommended boosters when eligible, continue to fare significantly better than those who are not up to date. With this is mind, our campuses continue to require students to remain up to date on their vaccinations, so we can all safely return to campus for an excellent, in-person higher education experience.  This semester, students will notice some changes related to COVID-19 testing.  While there may be some periodic mandatory testing (please refer to your campus for their specific requirements), for the most part, testing will simply be easily available to students who wish to test. Whether you have symptoms, you were exposed, or you just want to know your status, you can get tested. The location of your testing may have also changed since last year. All students will now utilize [...]

As you all may be aware, the Biden administration declared monkeypox to be a public health emergency in the U.S. on August 4, 2022. Both California as well as Los Angeles County have also made similar declarations recently. First, I would like to share with you a few current facts regarding monkeypox: Monkeypox is a viral infection As of August 4, 2022, there have been more than 6,600 confirmed cases of monkeypox in the continental U.S. and Puerto Rico While this is a cause for concern, thankfully, monkeypox is rarely fatal and no deaths have been reported in the U.S. so far. However, there have been eight reported deaths from this disease across the world during the current outbreak, primarily in Africa and other regions where the health systems aren’t as robust Early signs may include fever, muscle aches, headache, swollen lymph nodes, exhaustion. A rash may also develop, often beginning on the face and then spreading to other parts of the body, including the hands, feet, eyes, mouth and/or genitals. This rash can sometimes be quite painful in nature Infection can be spread from the time symptoms start until the rash has fully healed and a fresh layer of [...]

Dear 7C Students, While we have remained hopeful that COVID-19 would continue to recede, unfortunately as you are likely aware, we are in the midst of another surge with the rapid spread of COVID-19 due primarily to the Omicron variant. The Omicron variant of COVID-19 is highly transmissible, and we expect to see cases and transmission on campus. Thankfully though, most cases due to the Omicron variant are milder, especially in those who are fully vaccinated or up to date with their booster. Boosters are effective and should help in limiting the spread, as will the use of upgraded masking (surgical masks or respirators such as N95/KN95/KF94). We encourage you to be aware and follow your campus’ guidelines for returning. These community messages with important details are linked here: Pomona College Claremont Graduate University Scripps College Claremont McKenna College Harvey Mudd College Pitzer College Keck Graduate Institute Student Health Services (SHS) is committed to supporting students for a safe, healthy and mentally fulfilling in-person experience. As we continue to respond to the evolving nature of our pandemic, medical resources continue to be strained. This semester, students will notice differences in SHS as well as contact tracing operations. SHS visits will [...]