New York State Public Health Requirements for Documentation of Immunity to Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR)

New York State public health law requires that college and university students taking 6 or more points provide documentation of immunity to measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) before their first term of study. There are several ways to document immunity. The options are described on the Columbia University MMR Form. The form must be completed and returned to 401 John Jay Hall by August 31, 2006 for students arriving for the fall semester and by February 1, 2007 for students arriving for the spring semester. Students may contact the Health Services at Columbia (HSC) Immunization Records Office at hs-enrollment@columbia.edu for more information about this requirement.

New York State Public Health Requirement for Certification of Meningococcal Meningitis Vaccination Decision

New York State public health law requires that college and university students receive information from their institutions about meningococcal meningitis and the vaccine that protects against most strains of the disease that occur on university campuses. Students must formally indicate their decision about being vaccinated. Columbia students must certify their meningitis vaccination decision at https://ssol.columbia.edu/ssv/crt/menIntro.html. Full instructions are given online, and the process takes two to three minutes. Students arriving for the fall semester must complete the certification by August 31, 2006 and those arriving for the spring semester must complete the certification by February 1, 2007. Students must use their individual University Network ID (UNI) and password to provide this certification, which must be completed before the student will be permitted to register for classes. 

ADDITIONAL IMMUNIZATIONS

HSC recommends that all students be properly immunized against or have immunity to the following: hepatitis B (three-dose series), varicella (chicken pox), tetanus diphtheria, and routine childhood immunizations. All vaccines are available at Primary Care Medical Services for nominal fees. Current fees, information about these vaccines, and risk factors for these diseases are all available at http://www.health.columbia.edu/docs/services/immunizations/index.html.