Immunizations

All students living in university housing during the fall or spring semesters are subject to the following vaccination requirements.

1. Must show immunity to measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR): 
   
   • Two measles doses
   • One mumps dose
   • One rubella dose
   
   All doses must have been administered after your first birthday and at least 28 days apart.
   
   Acceptable proof of immunity includes:
   • Childhood immunization records, in English or officially translated
   • A New School Immunization Form, signed and stamped by your medical provider
   • Official immunization records from a previous school, such as high school or college
   • An official lab report (blood antibody titer) showing immunity to measles, mumps, and rubella
   • You can submit proof of honorable discharge from the armed services within the last ten years in order to attend classes pending receipt of immunization records from the armed services
   • If you previously had a measles and/or mumps infection, no proof of vaccination is necessary, but the date of infection must be documented and verified by a medical provider
     
     
2. Proof of meningitis ACWY vaccination within the past five years:
   
   • One meningitis ACWY dose
   
   Your meningitis ACWY dose must have been administered within the past five years. If it's been more than five years since your last dose, you'll need to get another one. Please note that proof of Meningitis B vaccination does not meet the requirement.
   
   Student Health Services receives the list of students who will be living in university housing in July for the fall semester and December for the spring semester. If you upload your immunization records before SHS receives those lists, you may not see the meningitis ACWY vaccine in your list of medical clearances in the SHS portal yet.
   
   If more than five years have passed from the date of your meningitis ACWY vaccine during the time you have lived on campus, you are required to receive a new meningitis ACWY vaccine on that day. For information about meningitis, visit cdc.gov/meningitis
   
   
3. Complete the meningococcal response form in the SHS portal:
   
   
   1. Log in to the SHS portal.
   2. Click on Upload Immunizations/View My Clearances.
   3. Click on Update next to Meningococcal Response Form.
   4. Students living in university housing may not decline the meningitis ACWY vaccine. You must upload documentation of the vaccine. Only vaccines received within the past five years meet the requirement.

Students Taking In-Person Classes and Living off Campus:

1. Must show immunity to measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR):

• Two measles doses
• One mumps dose
• One rubella dose

All doses must have been administered after your first birthday and at least 28 days apart.

Acceptable proof of immunity includes:

• Childhood immunization records, in English or officially translated.
• New School Immunization Form, signed and stamped by your medical provider.
• Official immunization records from a previous school, such as a high school or college.
• An official lab report (blood antibody titer), showing immunity to measles, mumps, and rubella.
• You can submit proof of honorable discharge from the armed services within the last ten years in order to attend classes pending receipt of immunization records from the armed services.
• If you previously had a measles and/or mumps infection, no proof of vaccination is necessary. However, the date of infection must be documented and verified by a medical provider.

2. Must complete a meningococcal response form in the SHS portal.

• Log in to the SHS Portal.
• Click on Upload Immunizations/View My Clearances.
• Click on Update next to Meningococcal Response Form.
• If you are not living in university housing, you may choose any of the three options on the form; proof of meningitis ACWY vaccination is not required. However, if you choose the second option on the form stating you have received the meningitis ACWY vaccine within the past five years, you must upload documentation of the vaccination.

Online-Only Students

Must complete a meningococcal response form in the SHS portal:

• Log in to the SHS portal.
• Click on Upload Immunizations/View My Clearances.
• Click on Update next to Meningococcal Response Form.
• If you are not living in university housing, you may choose any of the three options on the form; proof of Meningitis ACWY vaccination is not required. However, if you choose the second option on the form stating that you have received the meningitis ACWY vaccine within the past five years, you must upload documentation of the vaccine.
  
  If your status changes (you add an in-person class), you will need to meet the requirements listed for students taking in-person classes.

All Exemption Request Forms are available in the SHS portal under Downloadable Forms. Once you have completed your form, you can upload it in the Downloadable Forms section along with the supporting documentation.

Medical Exemption
If you are unable to receive a vaccination for medical reasons, please upload the following documents to the SHS portal:

1. Request for Medical Exemption Form completed by you and your medical provider
2. Supporting documentation from your medical provider that addresses the medical reasons you are unable to receive each vaccine for which you are requesting an exemption

Please note: Student Health Services staff may request additional medical information from you or your provider to further assess your request.

Pregnant students may receive a temporary exemption if medically necessary.

Religious Exemption
If you are unable to receive vaccinations for religious reasons, please upload the following documents to the SHS portal:

1. Request for Religious Exemption Form completed by you 
2. A signed letter from you explaining how your religion prevents you from receiving each vaccine for which you are requesting an exemption, along with any supporting scripture

Students granted exemptions from receiving measles, mumps, rubella, and/or meningitis ACWY vaccinations may be excluded from classes and campus facilities (dorms, university buildings, etc.) in the event of an outbreak. Any costs associated with exclusion from classes, campus facilities, and/or university housing during an outbreak are students' responsibility.

Student Health Services offers free MMR vaccinations by appointment. To schedule an appointment, log in to shsportal.newschool.edu or call us at 212.229.1671, option 2.

Students in need of meningitis ACWY vaccines can visit one of these clinics.

If you're having trouble getting a vaccine, please contact Student Health Services at [email protected]. We're happy to help!

Below are informational fact sheets for the required immunizations:

• MMR Vaccine Fact Sheet
• Meningitis ACWY Fact Sheet
• Influenza (Flu) Vaccine Fact Sheet
• Hepatitis A Vaccine Fact Sheet
• Hepatitis B Vaccine Fact Sheet
• Tdap Vaccine Fact Sheet