Immunization Requirements

Student Immunization Policy
Policy Number STU-020
Responsible Office/Person: Student Affairs - Health Services
Additional History This policy updates STU-020 from December 17, 2007

I. POLICY STATEMENT

The University requires that all full-time students, all campus residential students, and all international students comply with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts immunization requirements policy.

II. PURPOSE

The state law is intended to minimize the risk of a campus outbreak of a contagious disease.

III. DEFINITIONS

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Immunization Policy requires that all full time students submit documentation of:

• Two doses of live measles vaccine given at least one month apart beginning after 12 months of age or results of a positive titer
• Two doses of mumps vaccine at least one month apart beginning after 12 months of age or results of a positive titer
• Two doses of rubella vaccine given at least one month apart beginning after 12 months of age or results of a positive titer • A Tdap (tetanus diphtheria acellular pertussis) adult booster dose. If the Tdap was received more than 10 years prior, the student must also show evidence of Tetanus/Diphtheria within the last 10 years
• Three doses of Hepatitis B vaccine or results of a positive titer
• Two doses of varicella vaccine at least one month apart or results of a positive titer or documentation of history of the disease (chicken pox) by a health care provider History of the disease is not sufficient for Nursing and Med Lab Science majors.

All new residential students must either receive the meningitis vaccine or sign a waiver before they can reside on campus and attend school. All students living on-campus must have these documents submitted to the Health Services Office no later than January 15th for the Spring admission and August 15th for the Fall admission in order to live in a campus residence hall or apartment. The specific immunization requirements might change depending upon changes in state law. The most current requirements can be found at Student Health Services' home site. 

All students living on-campus -full time, part time, Professional and Continuing Education (matriculated and non- matriculated) must comply with all of the above immunization requirements. Note: Non-matriculated Professional and Continuing Education students who live on campus must comply with the immunization requirements; however, they are not eligible to use Health Services.

IV. PROCEDURES

At Health Services, a student can sign into the patient portal. From the portal a student can download/upload his/her immunization form. Students should have their healthcare provider complete and sign the form, then upload it into the patient portal. The student may also upload official immunization records from previous schools or your personal records.

If records cannot be found, students can be immunized at Student Health Services. Their health insurances will be charged for the immunizations. If their insurance does not cover their immunizations, the student will be charged the full amount of the vaccine cost. This service is not available during the summer. Students should call Student Health Services for an appointment.

These immunizations are required by June 1st for Fall Admission and January 15th for Spring Admission or 30 days after acceptance. Student records should be uploaded into the student health portal by the due date or shortly thereafter. Failure to comply will result in residential students losing their housing to persons on the waiting list and all students will have all their classes dropped from their academic schedule.

The College of Nursing and Med Lab Science Majors must have all the above requirements for both full time and part-time students. Nursing Students participating in a clinical rotation must also have a current PPD. The health history form is also located on the Health Services website. Students should log onto the patient portal and complete the information online.

V. RESPONSIBILITY

The Office of Health Services is responsible for communicating the state and University regulations with regard to immunization requirements.