Documentation of Immunity

All students enrolled in Massachusetts, Oakland, Global Scholars, and London Scholars must submit proof of immunity to various diseases. The vaccinations required are set by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and the California Department of Public Health.  Some Bouvé College of Health Sciences students are required to have clinical clearance prior to clinical, internship or practicum. Please refer to the university catalog for details.

Required vaccines

Hepatitis B, Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Meningitis, Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis, and Varicella.

Recommended vaccines

Influenza, Meningitis B, Hepatitis A, HPV and COVID-19.

Recommended testing/screening

Tuberculosis

Do I need to submit my immunization record?

Students who are required to submit proof of immunity include:

  • Students enrolled in Massachusetts
  • Students enrolled in Oakland
  • Global Scholars
  • London Scholars
  • Foundation Year

Graduate Students

Graduate students at Northeastern global campuses (non-residential settings) are strongly encouraged to have immunizations against Hepatitis B, Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Meningitis, Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis, and Varicella. The following vaccines are also recommended: Influenza annually, Meningitis B, Hepatitis A, HPV and COVID 19. Speak to your current health provider to see which vaccines you can receive.

In addition, students may need to be tested for Tuberculosis.  From the CDC (https://www.cdc.gov/tb/publications/faqs/tb-qa.htm#should-get-tested), you should get tested for Tuberculosis (TB) if:

  • You have spent time with a person known or thought to have infectious TB disease.
  • You were born in or frequently travel to countries where TB disease is common, including Mexico, the Philippines, Vietnam, India, China, Haiti, and Guatemala, and other countries where TB is common.
  • You currently live, used to live, or are employed in a large group setting where TB is more common, such as a homeless shelter, prison, jail, or nursing home.
  • You are a health care worker who cares for patients with TB disease.
  • You are part of a population that is more likely to have latent TB infection (LTBI) or TB disease, including people who don’t have good access to health care, have lower income, or misuse drugs or alcohol.

This  testing can be done through a blood test. A skin test is also acceptable  . According to the World Health Organization (WHO), TB is the world’s top infectious killer. It is a contagious airborne disease. About 87% of new TB cases occurred in 30 high TB burden countries, with more than two thirds of the global total in China, India, Nigeria, and three smaller countries. World Health Organization Tuberculosis Fact Sheet

Required Vaccines

Tdap (Tetanus-Diphtheria-Pertussis)

  • Immunization within the last ten years is required.
  • If a Tdap was received over ten years ago, either one Tdap or one Td vaccine is required.
  • One Tdap is required if no previous Tdap has been received.

Hepatitis B

  • A Series of three doses or a positive titer is required1.
  • The second dose must be given at least one month after the first,
  • The third dose must be given at least two months after the second doses and at least four months after the first.

MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella)

  • Two doses or a positive titre is required1.
  • The first dose must be given after the first birthday.
  • The second dose must be given at least twenty-eight days after the first.
  • Birth in the U.S. before 1957 is acceptable for establishing immunity only for non-health science students.

Varicella (Chickenpox)

  • Two doses or a positive titre is required1.
  • The first dose must be given after the first birthday.
  • The second dose must be given at least twenty-eight days after the first.
  • A reliable history of chickenpox is also acceptable.
  • A reliable history of chickenpox includes a diagnosis of chickenpox, or interpretation of parent/guardian description of chickenpox, by a physician, nurse practitioner, physician assistant or designee.

Meningococcal (Meningitis)

1A “positive titre” is a result of a blood test that confirms immunity to a specific infectious illness.

Recommended Vaccines

Influenza

  • Submission of the flu shot administered during the current flu season (August 2023-March 2024).

Meningitis B

  • Bexsero: Two doses at least one month apart; or
  • Trumenba: Three doses at 0, 3, and 6 month intervals

Hepatitis A

  • Two doses administered at least six months apart.

HPV

  • A two-dose schedule is recommended for people who get the first dose before their15th birthday. In a two-dose series, the second dose should be given 6–12months after the first dose (0, 6–12-month schedule). The minimum interval is five months between the first and second dose. If the second dose is administered after a shorter interval, a third dose should be administered a minimum of five months after the first dose and a minimum of 12 weeks after the second dose.

COVID-19

  • Documentation of primary two dose series and one COVID-19 bivalent booster.

What If I am unable to provide all of the documentation required?

Students are expected to be fully immunized prior to arriving to campus. Those who cannot provide documentation of all required immunizations, or who’s immunizations have expired may receive any of these by seeing your local health care provider, or visiting a local travel clinic.

Many health plans do not cover the cost of these immunizations. Students should review their own health plan benefits for their plan coverage. Students with Northeastern University Student Health Plan (NUSHP) are covered for all of their required vaccine costs. If you do not have NUSHP, vaccines may be purchased with a credit or debit card.

UHCS Notifications to Students

UHCS emails students after their University Health Reports have been received and processed. New students are sent an email stating that their Health Report is complete or that something is missing. Students who have not provided complete information will receive a second email during the term indicating what information is missing and informing them that they will not have access to registration. Students who are still not in compliance are sent another email indicating that the Health Center hold is on their account and detailing what information must be provided to UHCS.

Health Center Holds

•  A student will have a Health Center hold if the student has failed to provide complete documentation of  immunizations in accordance with Massachusetts state law.

•  Deadlines for providing this information are as follows: the end of June for undergraduate students entering in the following fall; the beginning of December for undergraduate students entering in the following spring; one month prior to the beginning of a graduate or law student’s program.

•  Health Center holds will prevent students from registering for an upcoming term. The Health Center hold also will prevent a student’s ability to complete “I Am Here.”

•  For questions about holds due to state mandated immunity requirements, please call (617) 373-2772 or email [email protected].

UHCS participates in the Massachusetts Immunization Information System (MIIS)

Massachusetts Immunization Information System (MIIS)   Massachusetts law (M.G.L. c. 111, Section 24M) requires providers to report immunization information to a computerized immunization registry known as the Massachusetts Immunization Information System (MIIS). 

  • The MIIS stores immunization records for you and your clinician and can help prevent outbreaks of disease like measles and the flu. 
  • All information in the MIIS is kept secure and confidential. 
  • The MIIS allows information to be shared with health care providers, boards of public health and state agencies concerned with immunization. 
  • You have the right to object to the sharing of your immunization information across providers in the MIIS. If you object, please complete this form and bring it to your appointment or submit it to [email protected].  
  • For more information, visit the MIIS website at www.mass.gov/dph/miis or contact the Massachusetts Immunization Program MIIS Help Desk directly at 617-983-4335.
  • The MIIS opt-out does not apply to reportable suspected and positive diseases.