Immunization FAQ

Whom may I talk to if I have questions? If you have questions,
please call Olin Health Center, at (517)353-9763, and someone there will
be happy to talk with you. You may also call the Office of the University
Physician at (517)353-8933. Your personal healthcare provider can also
answer your questions.

Do I have to return a form? Yes. Newly entering undergraduate
students are required to complete the Student Immunization Self-Report form,
whether or not they choose to follow the vaccination recommendations.
The form you complete provides the University with needed information
and confirms that you had the opportunity to review the current immunization
recommendations from national health agencies for college students. *Failure
to complete the required form will affect students' ability to register.*

Do I have to report my immunization status? No. Newly enrolled
undergraduate students can fill out Part B of the Student Immunization
Self-Report form, in which they tell the University that they decline
to provide their immunization information. But, we strongly encourage
you to report your current immunization status, because it could facilitate
healthcare for you while you attend MSU. For example, if you come to Olin
Health Center with certain injuries, it will help you and us if we can
find out quickly whether you need a tetanus/diphtheria booster.

Are graduate students covered by the immunization policy? No. Undergraduate
students must report their immunization status. We annually inform graduate
and other students about immunizations and other health-related issues.
The Immunization Guideline Sheet provides vaccination recommendations
for children and adults. Checking your immunization status and updating
it are sound precautions against contagious disease.

I'm a new international student. What information should I know?
New international students can review the letters they receive from the
Office of Admissions and Scholarships and the Office of International
Students and Scholars. Visit http://uphys.msu.edu, choose the
Projects link and then the Immunization Project Link, where you will find
the International Students link. These sites also contain more information
about tuberculosis testing.

What if I do not know my current immunization status? Your personal
physician should have a record of your last tetanus/diphtheria booster,
whether you have had the hepatitis B series and the meningococcal vaccine.
Often parents remember, even if you do not, if you have had the chickenpox.
About 90% of college students have had the disease, and those students
do not need the varicella vaccination. If you and your parents do not
remember whether you have had the chickenpox, your physician may want
to order a blood test to determine whether you have had the chickenpox.

What do I do if I am in the middle of a shot sequence when I am due
to start school? The immunizations that require more than one shot
have a schedule that can be extended, but not shortened. That is, you
may get the shots later than the schedule says, but not sooner. If you
are in the middle of a series when you start school, you can either get
the later shots when you go home, or you can get them at Olin Health Center
or at the Ingham County Health Department Immunization clinics. Usually,
once you start a series, you are protected until you get the next shot,
even if it is later than the recommended schedule.

Who will get to see my immunization record? The Student Immunization
Self-Report form will be treated as a confidential record, like your academic
records. The only University staff who will have access to your immunization
record are those who need to handle or see it in the context of providing
service to you, or in the context of a public health concern on campus.
For instance, if we learned of a case of chickenpox in a residence hall,
a healthcare provider would alert the students in that residence hall
who were at risk for getting the disease, so that we could inform them
about ways to protect themselves.

Does the University require an entrance physical? No. If you have
no health concerns, then a check-up with your healthcare provider is probably
not necessary. However, if you have any questions, or especially if you
have a significant health condition, then seeing your family doctor before
coming to college would be advisable. Arriving on campus with an adequate
supply of any prescription medications and a treatment plan may prevent
possible problems.