Do You Have to Have Your Shots Up to Date to go to College?

Do not let the busyness of furnishing your college dorm room and registering for classes prevent you from keeping your immunizations current. Check with your individual school since vaccine requirements differ from state to state and among colleges. You will need proof of vaccinations or that you have immunity to the disease, such as chicken pox. Be sure to consider vaccinations for diseases such as meningitis and human papilloma virus, or HPV, even though your school may not require these.

Function

• Vaccines consist of killed or weakened microbes of the disease virus or bacteria. The vaccination prompts your body to produce antibodies to fight that particular disease. The microbes in the vaccine are not strong enough to give you the disease, only to stimulate the antibodies. Your body will then guard against future exposure to the virus or bacteria.

Types

• Most states require that you provide proof of the following vaccines or immunity prior to entering college: Tdap -- or diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis -- measles, mumps, rubella -- or MMR -- hepatitis B and varicella -- chicken pox. Fifteen states now require the meningococcal, or meningitis, vaccine, and in 34 states colleges must give students information on meningococcal.

Time Frame

• If you have had the Tdap vaccine within the last five years, you do not need another vaccination. With some vaccines you must get a series of shots. Varicella takes two doses, and the hepatitis B vaccine is a series of three doses. These vaccines only afford full protection if you take all the doses. Other vaccines require boosters after a specified number of years.

Considerations

• Even though colleges do not require the HPV vaccine and the yearly flu vaccine, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends these vaccines for college students. Depending on the type of HPV, it can cause cervical cancer and genital warts. The HPV immunization is encouraged for both girls and boys between the ages of 9 and 26. The CDC also urges everyone over the age of 6 months to get a yearly flu shot.

Warning

• Vaccines may cause mild side effects including a rash, low fever or soreness. This is normal, but ask your physician about any concerns. Serious side effects rarely occur. According to the CDC, you are at more risk from not being vaccinated than through the vaccine itself.