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Immunization

FAQs

• How do I know if I need any immunizations?
  If you are an incoming student, you will be notified of all required and recommended immunizations on our Web site. For Health Plan members, your primary care physician will determine which immunizations you need when you have an appointment with them.
• Should I receive an immunization if I have a cold or am ill with fever?
  If you are ill with a mild cold, you may received an immunization, however, you should not receive immunizations if you have a fever.
• Can I receive more than one immunization at a time?
  Yes, you may receive multiple vaccines at one time.
• If my physician orders immunizations for me, how quickly can I come to receive my vaccine?
  You may come directly to the Department of Health Promotions located on the 4h floor of YUHS, on a walk-in basis, Monday through Friday 8:30 A.M. - 4:30 P.M., except Tuesdays after 12:30 P.M.
• What are the common side effects from immunizations?
  Prior to all injections, the Nurse will provide you with a Vaccine Information Sheet for all the immunizations you are about to receive. The most common side effect is soreness at the site of the injection.

Students

• Which vaccination form should be completed?
  Only healthcare profession students (School of Medicine, School of Nursing, P.A. Program) need to complete the Health Professions Vaccination Record. All other students must complete the Vaccination Record for Incoming Students.
• Who must complete the vaccination form?
  All incoming male and female, undergraduate, transfer, graduate and re-admitted students, regardless of age, must complete the appropriate vaccination form (see previous question).
• What immunizations are necessary?
  Please refer to the Vaccination Record for Incoming Students or the Health Professions Vaccination Record (School of Medicine, School of Nursing, P.A. Program) for required and recommended vaccinations.
• What does "documented proof" of immunity mean?
  Documented proof is a written record of your immunization dates provided by a high school, university, college, or doctor's office.
• What should I do if my immunization records are lost or unavailable?
  You should have blood tests called titers to show immunity to measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (chicken pox). If you are a healthcare professional, (School of Medicine, School of Nursing, P.A. Program) you will also need a quantitative Hepatitis B titer, a Mantoux TB test for tuberculosis and a tetanus vaccination. Please refer to the vaccination forms for more detail.
• My doctor says I only need one measles immunization. Is this true?
  No, Connecticut state law requires documented evidence of two measles immunizations. The first dose must be given on or after your first birthday. The second dose must be given at least 30 days after the first dose and on or after January 1, 1980.
• Is it mandatory for students to receive the meningitis vaccine prior to entering Yale University?
  All students living in on-campus housing (residential colleges and addresses listed on the vaccination form), are required by Connecticut state law to have the meningitis vaccination. Only the quadrivalent type is acceptable (see next question).
• Which meninigitis vaccine should I get?
  Only the quadrivalent type of meningitis vaccine is acceptable. It protects against four strains of the most common types of meningitis (A, C, Y and W-135). Acceptable vaccines include Menomune, Menactra and Mencevax.
• What is the difference between Td (Tetanus) and Tdap (Tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis) vaccines?
  The Td vaccine protects you against getting tetanus and diphtheria alone. The Tdap vaccine will not only protect you from those two diseases but also from getting pertussis. As a child you were most likely immunized for pertussis. However, over time, that immunity wears out. By the time you are college age, you are most likely no longer immune to pertussis. Pertussis is a highly contagious respiratory illness that leads to other more serious illness.
• My blood titer result was equivocal or borderline. Do I need another immunization?
  Yes, because we cannot accept borderline immunity. You will need another immunization to booster your immunity.
• Does it matter what kind of TB test I have?
  Only the PPD tuberculin 5 T.U. (Mantoux TB test) is acceptable. We do not accept multiple puncture tests such as TINE, Monovac and so on.
• How should the TB test be documented?
  TB test reaction must be documented in millimeters and signed by a healthcare professional. The reaction must be read within 48 to 72 hours after the test is administered. We cannot accept a simple reading of positive or negative.
• I have received BCG in the past. Do I still need a TB test?
  Yes, you still need a TB test, unless you had a previous Mantoux TB test that was positive with an indurated reaction of 10mm or greater. In that case, you must have documentation of a negative Chest X-Ray and be without symptoms.
• Where can I get more information?
  Connecticut Department of Public Health
  Centers for Disease Control
  Tuberculosis Skin Test Fact Sheet
  immunization@Yale.edu
• What are Yale University's medical and immunization policies for students?
  Immunization Policy for Undergraduate and Gradute Students; Immunization Policy for Health Profession Students