As young adults enter college, they will face pressure to receive vaccines for meningitis, HPV, COVID-19 and influenza. Every year, NVIC receives a few emails from parents and students in distress due to vaccine requirements that they were unaware of before post-secondary enrollment.
I remember touring colleges with my daughter and trying to obtain information on vaccination requirements and exemptions. It wasn’t always easy, and we started early! If this topic is important to you, make time to become informed and integrate obtaining this information into your college decision-making process.
This article will provide information on vaccine requirements and exemptions for college-bound young adults and offer resources and tips for obtaining this information from prospective colleges and universities.
College Students are In Charge – Is Your Student Ready?
As parents, we are accustomed to making health decisions for our children. As children become adults, they will start making their own health decisions, including vaccination. Providing your perspective about vaccines, informed consent rights, family medical history, and trusted resources will empower your child’s critical thinking abilities to seek out information and make informed health decisions.
Preparing your young adult well before choosing what college or university to attend contributes to their ability to confidently make their vaccination and health decisions and to stand up for their beliefs and choices, even when pressured or bullied. Parents can help their sons and daughters find accurate information and resources regarding:
- the risks of the vaccine the college is asking them to receive;
- the risks of the disease for which they are considering vaccination;
- and their right to informed consent in the vaccine decision-making process.
NVIC provides reliable information on diseases and vaccines to assist young adults and parents in making decisions about vaccination.
Remember, whatever vaccination decisions our sons and daughters make, make no mistake—they are their decisions to make and defend when they reach adulthood. Post-secondary institutions recognize this right of passage.
State Laws Determine College Vaccine Requirements and Exemptions
Similar to vaccine laws pertaining to K-12 requirements and exemptions, vaccine laws for post-secondary education are determined by state legislatures. These laws vary and there can be differences in requirements and exemptions for public vs. private post-secondary educational institutions. To obtain vaccine requirement and exemption information, many families have also found it helpful to proactively:
- Ask the admissions officer for the school’s vaccination and exemption policy in writing (it should be on the institution’s letterhead) if it is not already available on their website; and
- Ask if any school programs, such as nursing or other medical programs, require vaccination. There may be exceptions made for medical contraindications or proof of existing antibodies. Still, these exceptions are on a case-by-case basis, and policies governing vaccination could change before graduation.
- Research the state exemption laws for colleges under consideration on NVIC’s state web pages. Medical, religious or conscientious, and philosophical or personal belief exemptions are recognized legal Learn more by reading NVIC’s FAQ - What Do I Need To Know About Vaccine Exemption?
- Be aware of the difference between a legal requirement and a recommendation. For example, the state of Alaska requires only that college students acknowledge receipt of information on meningococcal disease, vaccine, and their increased risk of contracting meningitis if living in student housing. At the same time, the Centers for Disease Control recommends that all incoming college students receive the meningococcal vaccine.
- Understand that some states allow exemption from vaccination or revaccination if titer tests prove the existence of antibodies. However, these tests are not available for all diseases for which a vaccine is available, and the acceptance of titer test results varies from state to state;
- Research exemption policies and laws regarding what happens in the event of an outbreak of a disease for which an individual is unvaccinated. Often, unvaccinated individuals are excluded from class and school activities until a certain amount of time has passed.
Research and Make a Plan!
NVIC recommends that college-bound students thoroughly research the vaccination laws of the state where they plan to attend college and the specific policies of the college and program they are considering. If understanding vaccination requirements for post-secondary education is important to you, starting your research early and getting answers in writing as part of your college decision process is best. The above links and information should give families and young adults a great starting point.
Additional proactive steps to stay informed and protect vaccine health freedom include
- Fighting Censorship: Share this information with other families and stay up-to-date on vaccine-related news. Sign up for the free NVIC Newsletter and The Vaccine Reaction weekly journal newspaper for breaking news about vaccine science, policy, law, and ethics news that affect you and your family.
- Protecting and Expanding Vaccine Freedom – Register for NVIC’s free Advocacy Portal and learn about vaccine-related legislation introduced in your state, access bill analysis and talking points, and easily contact your elected officials with your concerns;
- Supporting Health Freedom Efforts – As the oldest vaccine-informed consent charitable non-profit, NVIC has advocated for informed consent protections in vaccine laws for over 40 years. Donations large and small make a difference! Make your tax-deductible donation to NVIC today and support our work.
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