Required Immunization	Varicella (Chickenpox)
Tuberculosis Screening	Pertussis
Hepatitis B	HPV Vaccine
Meningitis (Meningococcal Disease)	Flu shots
Immunization Forms

All new students are required to provide proof of immunization against measles, mumps and rubella, and tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis.  All new students must also provide proof of immunization against hepatitis B and meningococcal meningitis or sign a waiver declining these immunizations. An immunization form must be completed and returned to the Student Health Service prior to arrival on campus. For students less than 18 years old, the meningitis/ hepatitis vaccine waivers must be signed by a parent or legal guardian. Students should also consider immunization against varicella (chicken pox).

All international students must also be screened for risk of tuberculosis by completing page two of the immunization form, and all nursing, physical therapy and medical (M.D) students are required to obtain additional immunizations and tuberculosis screening as described on the nursing and physical therapy immunization form and medical student immunization form.

Immunization information must be entered at mystudenthealth.miami.edu prior to faxing or mailing the form to us for verification.

Immunization information is provided to the State of Florida FLORIDA SHOTS immunization registry. Students can opt-out of this immunization registry by completing an opt-out form.

Deadlines for submission of immunization records are Fall-August 22nd, Spring-January 15th and Summer-April 15th for all except medical students. Medical student deadlines are as stated on the medical student immunization form. Failure to comply with these immunization requirements prior to the beginning of your first semester will interfere with registration and a $50.00 late processing fee will be charged for any form received after the start of the semester. Forms will be processed within 48 hours of receipt, and immunization status can be verified via mystudenthealth.miami.edu.

Most students will be able to obtain the required immunization information from their prior medical providers or from their prior high school, college or university. Students who believe that they were previously immunized but are unable to provide proof of immunization may either obtain blood tests confirming immunity or obtain the necessary immunizations. Immunizations and blood tests documenting immunity are available at the Student Health Service. All charges are in addition to processing fees for late forms.

All students living on campus will also be asked to document receipt of hepatitis and meningococcal meningitis immunizations, or to acknowledge both receipt of information about these vaccines and preference against immunization. This can be done during completion of the immunization form or via mystudenthealth.miami.edu.

Tuberculosis screening must be completed by all international students, and requires completion of page two of the Immunization Form. International students who have not had contact with others sick with tuberculosis, who were born in a country considered low risk for tuberculosis, and have never lived in or traveled to any country other than USA considered low risk for tuberculosis do not require additional screening. All other international students must have additional screening with a PPD Test within six months prior to arrival on campus, or by one month after arrival on campus.

Hepatitis B is a serious infectious disease that attacks the liver and can lead to lifelong infection and even death. The virus is spread when an individual comes in contact with blood or other body fluids of an infected person through broken skin or mucous membranes. Each year approximately 3,000 - 5,000 people die from hepatitis B. Although there is no cure, the infection can be prevented by vaccination. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends vaccination of everyone 18 years of age and under, as well as others at high risk for hepatitis B, including anyone with more than one lifetime sexual partner.

Unprotected sex, non-sterile body piercing and tattoos, sharing needles, toothbrushes, razors and pierced earrings, and travel abroad to countries where hepatitis B is common, can increase the risk for college students. In addition, health sciences students (e.g., nursing and medical students) are at particular risk of exposure through patient care.

The hepatitis B vaccine is safe and effective but should not be given to anyone who has had a life threatening reaction to baker's yeast or to a previous dose of the vaccine. The most common side effect of the vaccine is soreness at the site of the injection. Vaccination requires a series of three shots over a six month period and provides long term immunity. In addition to vaccination, people can attempt to reduce their risk by using condoms during sex and avoiding tattooing and body piercing with non-sterile instruments or techniques. They should also avoid sharing needles, pierced earrings, razors or toothbrushes.

Meningococcal disease is a rare but potentially fatal bacterial disease that occurs either as meningococcal meningitis, inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord or meningococcemia, presence of bacteria in the blood. Meningococcal disease occurs in about 1-3 out of 100,000 people each year, but is more common among freshman students living in on-campus housing. About 10-15% of those affected die in spite of antibiotic treatment and of those who survive, another 10-20% lose limbs, become deaf, have neurological problems, become mentally disabled or suffer seizures or strokes.

Meningococcal bacteria are transmitted through the air via droplets of respiratory secretions, and through direct contact with persons infected with the disease. Oral contact with shared items such as cigarettes or drinking glasses or through intimate contact such as kissing, could put a person at risk for acquiring the infection. People identified as close contacts of a patient with meningococcal disease should receive antibiotics to prevent the disease.

Symptoms include high fever, severe headaches, neck stiffness, rash, nausea, vomiting and lethargy (confusion, sleepiness, being hard to wake up). Because the disease progresses rapidly, often in as little as 12 hours, those who experience two or more of the above symptoms are urged to seek immediate medical care.

The vaccine is considered to be safe, but should not be given to those who have had a serious allergic reaction to any of the vaccine components. Anyone with a history of Guillain-Barre Syndrome should speak to their health care provider before getting the conjugate (Menactra) vaccine. Some people have mild side effects including redness or pain at the injection site or fever. The vaccine does not completely eliminate the possibility of infection, but is effective against the strains responsible for two thirds of the cases on college campuses.

Meningococcal Meningitis and Hepatitis B immunizations are available at the University of Miami Student Health Service.

Chickenpox is more than just a childhood disease. While the symptoms are usually mild in children, college students may be 10 times more likely than children to develop serious complications, including pneumonia, encephalitis, and even death. Each year, approximately 11,000 people are hospitalized and 100 die due to chickenpox.

Chickenpox may spread more easily in a college living environment, and college students are considered to be more susceptible to the disease. As with hepatitis B, health sciences students are at particular risk of exposure to chickenpox through patient care and furthermore may transmit the infection to patients at high risk of complications. A vaccine is available to prevent chickenpox, and the CDC and ACHA recommend all college students who have not had chickenpox be vaccinated against the disease. If your child has not had chickenpox, it is strongly recommended by health officials that he or she get vaccinated.

Varicella (Chicken Pox) vaccines are available at the University of Miami Student Health Service. More information is available at www.miami.edu/student-health.

Pertussis is a bacterial respiratory illness characterized by severe spasms of coughing that can last for several weeks or even for months. According to the CDC, in the United States, 5000-7000 cases of pertussis are reported each year. There has been an overall increase in cases since 1990, with a disproportionate increase in adolescents and adults. Pertussis is highly contagious with up to 90% of susceptible household contacts developing clinical disease following exposure to an index case. Adolescents and adults who have been vaccinated as children often have mild or no symptoms, but may have classic pertussis. Infected individuals can pass the disease to non-immunized or not completely immunized infants, and the disease can be severe in these individuals. Due to the increased prevalence of pertussis, recent guidelines have recommended that tetanus boosters, which previously included diphtheria, should include pertussis as well. This combined vaccine (Tdap) should be given to adolescents. For students with frequent close contact with infants less than 12 months (i.e. parents, health care workers, day care workers), the combined vaccination should be given if a tetanus shot has not been received in the past 2 years.

The Human Papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine is recommended for girls 11-12 years old, and for girls and women 13-26 years old and is also available for boys and men up to age 26 . The vaccine targets HPV subtypes that cause 70% of all cervical cancers and about 90% of genital warts, and is given in a series of three doses in a 6 month period. The vaccine is currently available at the Student Health Service. More information is available from the CDC.

Links and Resources

• ACHA Meningitis Information
• Bacterial Meningitis FAQ
• Center for Disease Control and Prevention/MMWR
• Mobile Downloads for CDC Vaccine Information Statements

• Immunization Form
• Immunization Form - Nursing and Physical Therapy
• Immunization Form-Medical Student
• Annual Nursing, Medical and Physical Therapy Student PPD Form
• Florida Shots Opt-out Form