Immunization Requirements

Measles (M) causes fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes, commonly followed by a rash that covers the whole body. It can lead to seizures (often associated with fever), ear infections, diarrhea, and pneumonia. Rarely, measles can cause brain damage or death.

Mumps (M) causes fever, headache, muscle aches, tiredness, loss of appetite, and swollen and tender salivary glands under the ears. It can lead to deafness, swelling of the brain and spinal cord covering, painful swelling of the testicles or ovaries, and, very rarely, death.

Rubella (R) causes fever, sore throat, rash, headache, and eye irritation. It can cause arthritis in up to half of teenage and adult women. If a person gets rubella while they are pregnant, they could have a miscarriage, or the baby could be born with severe congenital disabilities. Most people vaccinated with MMR will be protected for life, providing security and peace of mind. Vaccines and high vaccination rates have made these diseases much less common in the United States.

For more information:

• Vaccine Information Statement: MMR Vaccine - What you need to know

• For more information:
  • CDC Meningococcal Disease
  • Vaccine Information Statement: Serogroup B Meningococcal Vaccines (MenB): What you need to know
  • Vaccine Information Statement: Serogroup A, C, W, Y Meningococcal Vaccines (MenACWY and MPSV4): What you need to know
• What is meningococcal meningitis? This type of meningitis is a severe bacterial infection of the bloodstream or meninges (a thin lining covering the brain and spinal cord). It is a relatively rare disease and usually occurs as a single isolated event. Clusters of cases or outbreaks are rare in the U.S.
• How is the disease spread? Meningococcal disease is transmitted through the air via droplets of respiratory secretions and direct contact with an infected person. Direct contact, for these purposes, is defined as oral contact with shared items such as cigarettes or drinking glasses or through intimate contact such as kissing. Although anyone can come in contact with the bacteria that causes this disease, data also indicates certain social behaviors, such as exposure to passive and active smoking, bar patronage, and excessive alcohol consumption, may put students at increased risk for the disease. Patients with respiratory infections, compromised immunity, those in close contact to a known case, and travelers to endemic areas of the world are also at increased risk.
• What are the symptoms? The early symptoms usually associated with meningococcal disease include fever, severe headache, stiff neck, rash, nausea, vomiting, and lethargy, and may resemble the flu. Because the disease progresses rapidly, often in as little as 12 hours, students are urged to seek medical care immediately if they experience two or more of these symptoms concurrently. The disease can be fatal.
• How soon do the symptoms appear? The symptoms may appear two to 10 days after exposure, but usually within five days.
• What is the treatment for meningococcal disease? Antibiotics, such as penicillin G or ceftriaxone, can be used to treat people with meningococcal disease.
• Should people who have been in contact with a diagnosed case of meningococcal meningitis be treated? Only people who have been in close contact (household members, intimate contacts, health care personnel performing mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, day care center playmates, etc.) need to be considered for preventive treatment. Casual contact as might occur in a regular classroom, office, or factory setting is not usually significant enough to cause concern.
• Is there a vaccine to prevent meningococcal meningitis? Presently, there is a vaccine that will protect against some of the strains of meningococcus. It is recommended in outbreak situations, and for those traveling to areas of the world where high rates of the disease are known to occur. For some college students, such as freshmen living in dormitories, there is a modestly increased risk of meningococcal disease. The vaccine can cost as much as $90 but the cost may be covered by the individual’s health insurance policy.
• How effective is the vaccine? The vaccine has been shown to provide protection against the most common strains of the disease. The vaccine has shown to be 85 to 100 percent effective in serogroups A and C in older children and adults.
• Is the vaccine safe and how long does it provide protection? The vaccine is very safe and adverse reactions are mild and infrequent. The meningococcal vaccine’s efficacy may last five years or longer.