Public Health

Helping Protect Yourself, Our Campus, and Our Greater Community

Boise State is committed to doing all we can as a university to prevent and/or minimize the spread of communicable diseases and their consequences as well as addressing public health concerns. Together we can support a safe working, learning, and living environment for ourselves, each other, and our community.

Whooping Cough

Ada County is experiencing an outbreak of whooping cough (pertussis) with over 300 cases this season. Boise State University has also had four active cases with over 400 students and staff exposed.

Whooping cough is caused by bacteria and requires antibiotic treatment. If you are experiencing a persistent cough or have been notified about an exposure please come see us for a test. We are open Monday through Friday from 8:30 to 5:00 in the Campus School Building.

The best way to protect yourself from whooping cough is to be vaccinated. Come see us on Thursdays from 9AM to 5PM to get vaccinated – no appointment needed. This combination vaccine will also protect you from Tetanus and Diphtheria.

Free parking available for non-BSU community members. Email us at publichealth@boisestate.edu for the parking code.

Whooping cough is also a reportable disease and requires five full days of isolation after you start antibiotics. Please call Public Health at 208-426-1523 if you have tested positive for whooping cough/pertussis.

H5N1 or Avian Influenza

Avian Influenza has been detected in the Treasure Valley affecting thousands of birds. It’s important to avoid contact with dead or sick wild birds, such as geese, and to avoid drinking raw milk to prevent the spread of this virus. Additionally, anyone raising poultry should carefully monitor their flocks for illness and avoid having them come into contact with wild birds. Our combined COVID/Flu test will detect H5N1 as influenza A with samples from high-risk individuals sent to the Idaho Bureau of Labs for confirmation testing. Worried you may have been exposed? Please call Public Health at (208) 426-1523.

Self-Collected Testing

Do you want to get tested for COVID/Flu, Whooping Cough or Sexually Transmitted Infections? Public Health provides self-collected tests with no appointment necessary. Visit our Testing Center and STI Testing pages for more information. These tests are available to everyone at Boise State and the greater community and can be dropped off at the Campus School Building on the corner of Brady and University!

Vaccines

The Moderna COVID-19 vaccine is in stock for ages 6 months to 11 years and Spikevax (also a Moderna brand) is available for individuals ages 12 years and older. We also offer the flu vaccine for ages 6 months and up. To prevent the spread of Whooping Cough, we now also carry the Tdap vaccine for ages 7 years and older.

Visit us every Thursday at the Albertsons Library from 9AM to 1:00PM then at the Campus School Building from 2:30PM to 5PM to get vaccinated. No appointment needed!