Health Services

Two doses of MMR are required. The first dose is typically administered after the first birthday, and the second is a minimum of four weeks after the first dose. We will also accept a blood test within the last year showing immunity, OR a birthdate prior to 1957. If there is not time to complete a series before matriculation, an appointment may be made at Student Health Services when the next dose of vaccine is due.

Meningococcal vaccine (covering serogroups A,C,Y,W-135). We accept Menactra, MenQuadfi, Menomune, Menveo, or Nimenrix. All first-year students who are living in a residence hall should receive a dose of MenACWY if they are unvaccinated, had their last dose before turning 16, or it has been over 5 years since the last dose (given after turning 16).

All currently authorized and recommended COVID-19 vaccines are safe, effective and reduce your risk of severe illness.

Currently, there are four COVID-19 vaccines that are authorized for use in the United States:

• Pfizer-BioNTech is an mRNA vaccine that is given in a two dose series with the 2nd shot administered 3 weeks (21 days) after your first dose was received.
• Moderna is also an mRNA vaccine that is administered in a 2 dose series. People 18 years and older will receive 2 shots given 4 weeks (28 days) apart.
• Novavax COVID-19 vaccine is a protein subunit vaccine that is administered in two doses (0.5 mL each) given 3 weeks apart.
• Johnson & Johnson's Janssen is a viral vector vaccine that uses a modified version of a different virus (the vector) to deliver important instructions to our cells. This vaccine is administered as a single dose to people 18 years and older.

We recommend that all incoming students, especially those living in Residence Hall facilities, to be vaccinated for Meningitis B. There are two different vaccine products by two different manufacturers – Bexsero, a two dose vaccine, and Trumenba, a three dose vaccine. They are not interchangeable – so be sure to indicate which vaccine you are receiving when you send in your immunization record.

One dose of influenza vaccine is required yearly. CDC recommends everyone 6 months of age and older get vaccinated every flu season. Everyone over 8 years of age needs only 1 dose each flu season. It takes about 2 weeks for protection to develop after vaccination. There are many flu viruses, and they are always changing. Each year a new flu vaccine is made to protect against 3 or 4 viruses that are likely to cause disease in the upcoming flu season. Even when the vaccine doesn’t exactly match these viruses, it may still provide some protection. The Influenza vaccine does not cause flu. Influenza vaccine may be given at the same time as other vaccines.

• Two doses of the chicken pox vaccine are recommended at least one month apart unless you have a positive immune titer verifying immunity or a history of disease with an approximate date.

Tdap vaccine can prevent tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis. Diphtheria and pertussis spread from person to person. Tetanus enters the body through cuts or wounds.

Tetanus (T) causes painful stiffening of the muscles. Tetanus can lead to serious health problems, including being unable to open the mouth, having trouble swallowing and breathing, or death. Diphtheria (D) can lead to difficulty breathing, heart failure, paralysis, or death. Pertussis (aP) also known as “whooping cough,” can cause uncontrollable, violent coughing that makes it hard to breathe, eat, or drink. Pertussis can be extremely serious especially in babies and young children, causing pneumonia, convulsions, brain damage, or death. In teens and adults, it can cause weight loss, loss of bladder control, passing out, and rib fractures from severe coughing.

Adults should receive a booster dose of either Tdap every 10 years or after 5 years in the case of a severe or dirty wound or burn.

Three doses are recommended for all matriculating students or a blood test showing immunity. All students should have all three doses of the hepatitis B vaccine as outlined in the following schedule. The second dose should be at least 28 days after the first dose and the third dose at least 16 weeks after first dose and at least 8 weeks after the second dose. If there is no time to complete a series before matriculation, an appointment may be made at Student Health when the next dose of vaccine is due.

This vaccine is recommended if you:

• travel or work anywhere except the U.S., Western Europe, New Zealand, Australia, Canada, and Japan
• have chronic liver disease, hepatitis B or C
• use illegal drugs
• are a man who has sex with other men
• have clotting-factor disorders
• work with hepatitis A virus in experimental lab settings (not routine medical laboratories)
• handle food (when health authorities or employers determine vaccination to be cost-effective)
• wish to obtain immunity to hepatitis A

HPV vaccine is routinely recommended for adolescents at 11 or 12 years of age to ensure they are protected before they are exposed to the virus. HPV vaccine may be given beginning at age 9 years, and as late as age 45 years. Most people older than 26 years will not benefit from HPV vaccination. Talk with your healthcare provider if you want more information. Most children who get the first dose before 15 years of age need 2 doses of the HPV vaccine. Anyone who gets the first dose on or after 15 years of age, and younger people with certain immunocompromising conditions, need 3 doses. Your healthcare provider can give you more information. HPV vaccine may be given at the same time as other vaccines.