This year, America’s colleges and universities are welcoming back record numbers of students. If you’re one of the more than 21 million undergraduates¹ attending school this fall, you know that proof of immunization is an important requirement. Now is the perfect time to learn more about which vaccinations you’ll need. Before you can step foot in the classroom, make sure you’re up-to-date on these shots.
REQUIRED (varies by state and institution, so check with your college)
- MMR (Measles, Mumps, and Rubella)
- Meningitis
- Hepatitis B
- Varicella (chicken pox)
RECOMMENDED
- Influenza (flu)
- Td (tetanus, diphtheria)
- HPV (human papillomaviruses)
Minors will need to get parental consent before getting caught up on any immunizations they might be missing. If you aren’t sure which vaccinations you’ve already had, speak with your doctor to obtain a medical history. Or, you can obtain proof of immunization through a lab test, such as MMR titers or Varicella titer testing. Some diseases – chicken pox, for example – will not require additional immunization if you have already been sick.
¹ U.S. Department of Education Institute, National Center for Education Statistics
