ÀÏ°ÄÃÅ×ÊÁÏ

Immunization Policy

Pursuant to Florida Board of Governors Regulation 6.001(9), prior to registration, each student accepted for admission at the ÀÏ°ÄÃÅ×ÊÁÏ must submit proof of required immunizations. ÀÏ°ÄÃÅ×ÊÁÏ requires documented proof of immunizations to measles and rubella. In addition, pursuant to Florida Board of Governors Regulations 6.007, effective July 1, 2008, all new matriculating students must also provide documentation of vaccinations against meningococcal meningitis and hepatitis B or provide a signed waiver for each declined vaccination.

Note: Measles, mumps, and rubella are not given as separate vaccinations. There are two MMR vaccines available for use in the United States, M-M-R II and PRIORIX. M-M-R II and PRIORIX are fully interchangeable for all indications for which MMR vaccination is recommended. Children may also get the MMRV vaccine, which protects against measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (chickenpox). This vaccine is only licensed for use in children who are 12 months through 12 years of age.

The has an automatic connection to the Florida Shots immunization database. If a student does not have a red dot next to immunizations, the student is already compliant for immunizations based on the information received from the Florida Shots database. No action is needed in these cases. If a red dot is seen next to immunizations, students can upload immunization documentation, enter vaccine dates, and complete electronic waivers for meningococcal meningitis and/or hepatitis B on the .

The Immunization Hold (IM) is not automatically cleared when compliance is reached within the Patient Portal. The staff of the Student Health Services Medical Compliance area must manually lift this hold. Because the two data sets are not linked, the hold may be on the account until the start date of the semester of admission. If the hold is not lifted by the start of the semester of admission, please contact Medical Compliance for assistance. The hold does not preclude the student from registering for classes.

Acceptable documentation is as follows:

Measles (Rubeola)

Students can be considered compliant for measles only if they have documentation of one of the following:

1. Official documentation of immunization with TWO (2) doses of live measles virus vaccine (2 MMRs) on or after the first birthday and at least 28 days (about 4 weeks) apart. Persons vaccinated with killed or unknown vaccine prior to 1968 must be revaccinated.
2. Laboratory (serologic) evidence of measles immunity titer.
3. A written, dated statement, signed by a physician on his or her stationery, that specifies the date seen, and stating that the person has had an illness characterized by a generalized rash lasting three or more days, a fever of 101 degrees Fahrenheit or greater, a cough and conjunctivitis, and in the physician's opinion, is diagnosed to have the 10-day measles (Rubeola).

Measles is a highly contagious acute viral infection characterized by a rash, cough, runny nose, eye irritation and fever. It is extremely communicable and is spread by droplets from the nose and mouth of an infected person to susceptible individuals. Measles can lead to ear infection, pneumonia, seizures, brain damage or even death. In recent years in the U.S., outbreaks have occurred most commonly in adolescents and young adults, including college students. Receiving two doses of the live measles vaccine can provide long-lasting immunity.

Rubella (German Measles)

Students can be considered compliant for Rubella only if they have documentation of at least one of the following:

1. Documentation of immunization with live Rubella virus vaccine (MMR) on or after the first birthday.
2. Laboratory (serologic) evidence of Rubella immunity titer.

Rubella is a contagious viral infection that causes a rash, mild fever and stiff joints in adults. A woman who gets rubella while pregnant could have a miscarriage or her baby could be born with serious birth defects. Its incidence is low in the U.S. due to the increased number of childhood vaccinations against the disease; however, outbreaks continue to occur in susceptible populations, including college students. The vaccination for rubella produces antibodies in more than 95 percent of recipients.

Mumps

Mumps is an acute viral infection characterized by muscle ache, tiredness, loss of appetite, headache and fever, followed by swelling of salivary glands. The parotid salivary glands (which are located within your cheek, near your jaw line, below your ears) are most frequently affected. Transmission of mumps virus occurs by direct contact with respiratory droplets, saliva or contact with contaminated fomites. Complications of mumps infection can include deafness, inflammation of the testicles, ovaries, or breasts and spontaneous abortion. In recent years in the U.S., the majority of cases reported occurred among adolescents and young adults, including college students.

Meningococcal meningitis 

Meningococcal meningitis is an infection of the fluid of the spinal cord and brain, caused by bacteria and usually spread through exchange of respiratory and throat secretions (i.e. coughing, kissing). Bacterial meningitis can be quite severe and may result in brain damage, hearing loss, learning disability or even death. A vaccine is currently available for one of the most severe forms of bacterial meningitis, meningococcus. This vaccine effectively provides immunity for most forms of meningococcus; there is no vaccine for the less severe viral type of meningitis.

Students can be considered compliant for meningococcal meningitis if they have documentation of at least one of the following:

1. Documentation of one dose of meningococcal meningitis. Brand names of meningococcal meningitis vaccines include Menactra (MCV4), Menveo (MCV4), Menomune (MPSV4), Trumenba (Meningococcal Group B Vaccine), and Bexsero (Meningococcal Group B Vaccine).
2. Electronic meningitis waiver: You can complete an electronic waiver of liability for meningitis on your . Please click on “Forms” on the left menu and select the meningitis waiver under immunization forms.

Hepatitis B 

Hepatitis B is a viral infection of the liver caused primarily by contact with blood and other body fluids from infected persons. Hepatitis B vaccine can provide immunity against Hepatitis B infection for persons at significant risk, including people who have received blood products containing the virus through transfusions, drug use, tattoos or body piercing; people who have sex with multiple partners or with someone who is infected with the virus; and health care workers and people exposed to biomedical waste.

Students can be considered compliant for hepatitis B if they have documentation of at least one of the following:

1. Documentation of a complete hepatitis B series.
2. Laboratory (serologic) evidence of hepatitis B immunity titer.
3. Electronic hepatitis B waiver: You can complete an electronic waiver of liability for hepatitis B on your . Please click on “Forms” on the left menu and select the hepatitis B waiver under immunization forms.

Exemptions

1. Students seeking an exemption due to medical conditions must upload documentation from a healthcare provider on the .
2. Students seeking an exemption for religious reasons may any of the documentation listed below or complete the ÀÏ°ÄÃÅ×ÊÁÏ Religious Exemption from Vaccination online form available on the :
   1. County Health Department exemption document
   2. A letter from a church or religious organization
   3. Legal exemption document from law office

Certification of Health Insurance

To comply with the Florida State Board of Governors (BOG) Regulation 6.009, F-1, F-2, J-1, J-2 visa status students must have a health insurance policy that meets certain criteria. The ÀÏ°ÄÃÅ×ÊÁÏ (ÀÏ°ÄÃÅ×ÊÁÏ) has a policy available that includes benefits that meet the Florida State Board of Governors Regulation (visit the for details). International students also have the option to purchase an alternate health insurance policy and waive the student health plan, if the policy meets the Florida State Board of Governors (BOG) Regulation 6.009 guidelines and complies with ÀÏ°ÄÃÅ×ÊÁÏ regulations and policies. If your program of study requires health insurance, you can enroll in the student health insurance plan or submit a waiver on the .

ÀÏ°ÄÃÅ×ÊÁÏ Health Insurance Plan (Option to Enroll)

Information on this plan can be found on the and the Student Health Services website. Students may login to the and select the option to enroll. The fee for this plan is then automatically assessed on the student's myWings account when tuition/fees are assessed. This online enrollment process in the student health insurance plan must be completed before registration. The payment deadline is the same as the tuition and fee deadline.

Alternate Insurance Waiver Plan (Option to Waive)

In order to meet the requirements with an alternate health insurance plan, students may login to the and select the option to waive. The students will then need to upload the health insurance ID card, coverage dates, and plan benefits for audit by the Academic Health Plans waiver team each semester for international students and once annually for program of study students.

The online waiver in the Academic Health Plans system must be submitted before the semester for which you enroll. The waiver information must be submitted and approved before registration for the upcoming semester. All alternate health insurance coverage must be for the entire upcoming semester (or beyond). If your online waiver is denied, you will need to get a different alternate health insurance plan that meets all requirements or opt to enroll in the student health insurance plan.

Please contact the ÀÏ°ÄÃÅ×ÊÁÏ Office of Medical Compliance for additional information.