Health Resources

Wisconsin: 

• Call your local public health agency or
• Check the Wisconsin Immunization Registry (WIR)

Minnesota:

• Call the Minnesota Department of Health MIIC Help Desk or
• Check the Minnesota Immunization Registry

Vaccines recommended for college students by the American College Health Association (ACHA)

• All of the following vaccines are available at the M Health Fairview Clinic - River Falls. Call 715-425-6701 to schedule an appointment. 
• Only tetanus, MMR and influenza are covered by Student Health Services, therefore students will be responsible for the full cost of vaccines received that aren't covered. 
• Pierce County Public Health offers most pertinent vaccines free or at reduced cost. Call 715-273-6755 for vaccine appointments.

Vaccines:

• Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR): Students at post-high school educational institutions who do not have presumptive evidence of immunity need two doses of MMR vaccine, separated by at least 28 days. 
• Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis (Tdap): A tetanus booster is needed every 10 years (after childhood primary series). One of these doses should be Tdap (Tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis).
• Varicella (Chickenpox): Students may want to consider this vaccine if they've never had the chickenpox or have not been vaccinated.
• Hepatitis B: Almost all infants are routinely vaccinated for Hepatitis B at birth. Students may want to consider this vaccine if they have not been immunized.
• Meningococcal: MenACWY is recommended for students living in the residence halls or are a first-year college student. MenB may be used for adolescents and young adults for short term protection.
• Influenza: Annually to avoid disruption to academic activities. Student flu vaccines are covered by Student Health Services for eligible students at M Health Fairview-River Falls and Pierce County Public Health. 
• Polio: Almost all children are routinely vaccinated but a booster may be required for some foreign travel.
• Hepatitis A: Students may want to consider receiving this vaccine at least one month before traveling to high risk countries. Recommended for routine use in all adolescents through the age of 18 and in particular for adolescent and adult high-risk groups (men who have sex with men, users of injectable and noninjectable drugs, or persons who have clotting factor disorders, and persons with chronic liver disease).
• Human Papillomavirus Vaccine (HPV): Recommended for females up to age 26 and males up to age 21. Men who have sex with men ages 22 through 26 years may also be vaccinated.
• COVID-19

Pierce County Public Health Vaccination Clinics

Pierce County Public Health Department offers certain vaccinations free or at a reduced cost to the community at regularly scheduled clinics at the Pierce County Public Health River Falls Office (same location as Pierce County Reproductive Health Services) at 1234 South Wasson Lane, Suite A. To receive immunizations at these monthly River Falls clinics, students must call the main Pierce County Public Health Department office in Ellsworth at 715-273-6755 in advance to set up an appointment to receive the requested vaccines. 

M Health Fairview Clinic-River Falls

Contact M Health Fairview Clinic-River Falls at 715-425-6701 for an appointment. Since most vaccines are not covered or subsidized by Student Health Services (except MMR, Tetanus and influenza), check with your health insurance provider regarding coverage. Otherwise, you'll be responsible for the full cost of the vaccine.

State statute relating to meningococcal disease and hepatitis B:  Please see the info below about meningococcal disease and hepatitis B, as well as the information about local availability and vaccine costs. You must submit dates of vaccination against meningococcal disease and hepatitis B as part of the housing contract process. Record these dates and dates of all vaccinations and carry these records with you. If you need the dates of any vaccinations that you've received, you'll need to contact the agency that administered the vaccine(s). If you receive either vaccine after the housing contract process, it is not necessary to submit the dates, but you should keep the dates for your own records. The law does not require that you receive these vaccinations.

Meningococcal Disease and Vaccine

Meningococcal disease is a potentially life-threatening bacterial infection that can lead to meningococcal meningitis, an inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord, or meningococcal septicemia, an infection of the blood. Meningococcal disease, caused by bacteria called Neisseria meningitidis, is the leading cause of bacterial meningitis in older children and young adults in the United States. Due to lifestyle factors, such as crowded living situations, irregular sleep patterns, and sharing of personal items, college students living in residence halls are more likely to acquire meningococcal disease than the general college population. Meningococcal infection is contagious, and progresses very rapidly. It can easily be misdiagnosed as the flu, and, if not treated early, meningitis can lead to death or permanent disabilities. One in five of those who survive will suffer from long-term side effects, such as brain damage, hearing loss, seizures, or limb amputation. For more information on meningococcal disease and vaccination, check out the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) web page.

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) for the CDC recommends that all incoming college freshmen living in dormitories be vaccinated against meningococcal disease with the Meningococcal Quadrivalent (ACYW) vaccine. The American College Health Association (ACHA) recommends receiving this vaccine if students are living in the residence halls and for those who wish to reduce their risk for the disease. The initial or booster dose of the conjugate vaccine should be given on or after age 16.  

There is no specific Men B vaccine recommendation for college students. However, since the CDC ACIP states that a Men B vaccine series may be administered to adolescents and young adults to provide short term protection against most strains of serogroup B meningococcal disease, some college students may choose to get this vaccine.   

Certain persons who are at increased risk for meningococcal disease should receive Men B vaccine in addition to the Meningococcal Quadrivalent vaccine.   

Meningococcal vaccinations may be available through Pierce County Public Health Department at no cost for some students. Please call 715-273-6755 to make an appointment and see if you qualify for a free or low cost vaccine. The vaccines may also be available at the M Health Fairview Clinics - River Falls. However, this is not covered by Student Health Services. Please call 715-425-6701 to check for availability and to schedule an appointment.

Hepatitis B Disease and Vaccine

Hepatitis B is a serious and contagious viral infection that attacks the liver and may lead to acute disease, chronic liver disease, cirrhosis or liver cancer. It is a major health problem in the United States infecting more than 1 million people.

You can get the infection through contact with blood or body fluids from an infected person. Hepatitis B is a hardy virus that can live for more than a week in dried blood or body fluids on clothes or other surfaces. Common ways of getting the disease include: a) through sexual contact (100 times more contagious than HIV spread sexually); b) through the eyes or mouth by exposure to blood or other body fluids; c) through the skin by way of cuts, scrapes, needle sticks or needle sharing; and, d) through contact between an infected mother and her newborn child during birth and early infancy.

There are safe and effective vaccines available to help prevent infection. The vaccination series consists of three shots given over a six month period of time. The vaccine is 90% effective for adults and 95% effective for infants, children, and adolescents who complete the three-dose vaccination series. Most persons receive this vaccine series as part of their childhood immunizations, but persons may want to confirm

For more information on Hepatitis B and the vaccine, please check out the Centers for Disease Control's (CDC) webpage or the Hepatitis B Foundation webpage. Vaccinations may be available through Pierce County Public Health Department at no cost for some students if no health insurance coverage and depending on age. Please call ahead to 715-273-6755 to make arrangements. Vaccinations are also available through the M Health Fairview Clinic -River Falls. Although these vaccinations are not covered by Student Health Services, the clinic will bill most insurances. Please call 715-425-6701 to schedule an appointment.

Tuberculosis Screening

Anyone exposed to tuberculosis (TB) or showing symptoms of TB should see a health care provider for evaluation and possible TB testing. TB tests are generally not needed for people with a low risk of infection with TB bacteria. The United States Public Health Service and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that TB testing be performed on all individuals who may be at increased risk of TB as indicated below (CDC 2022).

Who Should Get Tested for TB 

Certain people should be tested for TB bacteria because they are more likely to get TB disease, including:

• People who have spent time with someone who has TB disease
• People with HIV infection or another medical problem that weakens the immune system
• People who have symptoms of TB disease (fever, night sweats, cough, and weight loss)
• People from a country where TB disease is common (most countries in Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and Russia)
• People who live or work somewhere in the United States where TB disease is more common (homeless shelters, prison or jails or some nursing homes)
• People who use illegal drugs                                     

Tuberculosis skin testing (Mantoux tuberculin skin testing) is covered by Student Health Services for students at M Health Fairview Clinic in River Falls. Students may call 715-425-6701 to schedule a time for testing (and the test will need to be read at the M Health Fairview Clinic in River Falls 48-72 hours later).

For more information about tuberculosis and these recommendations/guidelines, check out the Centers for Disease Control tuberculosis website, check with your health care provider, contact your local public health department (Pierce County Public Health Department 715-273-7655) or call Student Health Services at 715-425-3293.

The Violence Prevention Coordinator (VPC) is a UWRF employee whose role is to plan, implement and evaluate prevention strategies, policies, programs and services to support student success. Areas addressed include sexual/intimate partner violence, sexual harassment/gender-based violence and stalking (sexual/intimate partner violence). To reach the VPC, call 715-425-3938. Call for current hours.

The Campus Victim Advocate (CVA) provides advocacy as well as direct and outreach/prevention services to UWRF students, faculty and staff who have experienced sexual assault, harassment, dating/domestic violence and stalking. The CVA is someone who can provide immediate support and resources and with whom victims can discuss options before deciding next steps.

The CVA is on campus 8-12 hours per week to support students. These hours are flexible based on student needs and preferences. 

The CVA is provided through an agreement with Turningpoint for Victims of Domestic and Sexual Violence. Call 715-425-3877 to set up an appointment or to leave a message for the CVA, or the CVA can be reached by contacting Turningpoint directly at 715-425-6751 or 715-821-8626 (text hotline) or 1-800-345-5104 (24 Hour Crisis Line). All Turningpoint numbers are available 24 hours/7 days per week. For more information about Turningpoint, go to turningpoint-wi.org/

Serenity Holbrook
Legal Services Coordinator
715-425-6751
serenityh@turningpoint-wi.org

• Call the taxi service at least 1-2 hours prior to appointments to allow for adequate time.
• The taxis are handicapped accessible. Please let the service know of any special needs when calling for a ride so that they can allow extra time.
• View current hours and rates.
• Besides the covered trips for students, trips within River Falls cost $2.75 per person. Contact the taxi for additional locations to connect with the airport shuttle.
• Visit the River Falls Shared Ride Taxi website for more information.

Learn more about health insurance information for international students from International Student Services. 

The Health Insurance Marketplace is a way for individuals and families who meet certain income requirements to buy private health insurance plans. Information on the Affordable Care Act is available at healthcare.gov/.

Do college students really need health insurance and how do I get health insurance? If you don't have health insurance, you'll want to shop for it and there may be restrictions for when you can apply for coverage. The law also provides new opportunities to acquire affordable health insurance. As an example, you may be eligible for coverage through the new online health insurance exchanges (also called the Health Insurance Marketplace). Exchanges can help you locate and compare plans, including coverage, benefits, premiums (purchase price), deductibles and co-payment costs.

You may find that you qualify for a premium subsidy (assistance) that will reduce the cost of an exchange plan. In some cases you may also qualify for a cost-sharing subsidy that will lower your out-of-pocket healthcare expenses. Whether you're eligible for a subsidy depends on your income. To learn what coverage and the level of assistance that might be available to you, visit healthcare.gov.

Many benefits of the ACA may vary from state to state. Some states have opted for the federal government to run their exchanges (including Wisconsin), while other states are running their own (including Minnesota). Expansion of the Medicaid program also varies by state.

 For More Information:

• Healthcare.gov/marketplace
• Access.wisconsin.gov/
• Minnesota Health Insurance Exchange

• BadgerCare Plus State of Wisconsin Healthcare Plan: Includes information on applying for Badger Care Core Health Care For Adults With No Dependent Children.
• MinnesotaCare: Minnesota residents who do not have access to affordable health insurance.
• Family Planning Only Services: Reproductive health services. View instructions for enrolling in this program.
• Great Rivers Consortium: Call center for questions and assistance with applying for BadgerCare and other programs.
• Student Dental and Vision Insurance: Through Benefit Partners Group, UWRF students can access voluntary dental and vision insurance for themselves and their families. Any student may enroll by using their UWRF student ID. For information and to enroll, please visit the Student Dental and Vision enrollment portal. You may also call the Student Support Team at 877-247-8817.

How to identify substance abuse:

• increased frequency of use
• loss of control over frequency, duration and/or amount of use
• drinking or using when you don't intend to
• substance use interferes with life activities (i.e. school, relationships with family and friends)
• increased spending money on substance of choice
• personality changes noted by self and others
• getting into risky/dangerous behaviors
• other people express concern about your use/ your behavior
• grades dropping
• missing classes and appointments
• legal trouble (i.e., DUI)

Frequent use and abuse of substances can have a serious effect on one's academic and personal lives. If you think that you are having difficulty controlling your use of alcohol or would like to talk to someone about your use, call and make an appointment with one of the counselors at 715-425-3884.

How to Help a Friend

It is an act of great caring to share your concern with someone if you believe they are doing something that is causing them harm. It's not a confrontation, conviction or personal attack to tell someone you care enough about them to talk about what’s going on and to offer a helping hand.

General Principles

• Ignoring self-defeating behavior is not helpful to the person about whom you are concerned.
• Helpful intervention is a process, not an event.
• When people are confronted about behavior that is a part of their lifestyle, they may become defensive and angry.
• The more you learn about alcohol and other drugs effects, the more helpful you can be to those who are having problems with them.

Attempt to do the Following

• Let the person know you care about him/her by using “I” messages, e.g., “I’m worried about you”.
• Try to remain calm.
• Refer to specific and observable behaviors, e.g. “I am worried because you have been drinking three nights a week for the past month and your grades are falling”.
• Remain non-judgmental. Emphasize the contrast between the person’s positive sober behavior and the intoxicated behavior or negative life effects which concerns you.
• Use gentle persistence.
• Anticipate possible responses (minimize, change topic, make excuses, promise to change, challenge your use).
• Accept their anger; don’t argue or get angry in return.
• Be ready to provide education (printed information, a list of campus and community resources, pamphlets on abuse).
• Utilize your own support system (talk with a support person before and/or after).
• Counseling Services has "Concerned Other" appointments available to assist students in navigating concerns about other students. 

Try to Avoid the Following

• Arguing with the person
• Getting angry and losing control
• Getting hooked by their defensiveness (don’t feel guilty or take it personally).
• Delaying the discussion; it should be done as soon as possible after an incident and after the person is sober
• Diagnosing e.g., “You’re an alcoholic”
• Sparing the person from the consequences of his/her use

If a person/student is willing to accept professional help, give them all the information you can about their various options. UWRF Counseling Services is a great place to start because they provide students with a confidential evaluation, counseling and referral services. Call us at 715-425-3884.

Content courtesy of University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Counseling Center

Helpful Links:

• College Drinking Prevention Program - National
• Adult Children of Alcoholics
• Mental Health and Addiction
• Drugs and Addiction Information
• ALANON (A program for the recovery of families and friends of alcoholics)