Health Office

Health Office

New York State Immunization Requirements

New York State Public Health Laws 2165 and 2167 require all students attending colleges and universities in New York to demonstrate immunity to measles, mump, rubella and to be educated about meningococcal meningitis.  These laws apply to all students registered for 6 or more credits including undergraduates, graduates, commuters, residents, US citizens, international students, cross registered students, students in online programs with a residency requirement or “modified online” format.

Canisius strictly enforces compliance with these mandates. Students must submit proof of immunity and the meningitis response form to the Student Health Center within thirty days of their first class. Students who do not submit the required information will have their registration cancelled, be excluded from class, removed from college housing and prohibited from further registration at Canisius.

Full time students, click here to download the physical examination and immunization form. Part time and graduate students, click here for the immunization form.

Proof of Immunity to Measles, Mumps and Rubella

Proof of immunity to measles, mumps and rubella is required for students born on or after January 1, 1957.

If you were born before January 1, 1957 you do not need to submit immunization records for measles, mumps or rubella. You do however need to complete the meningitis response form listed below.

Measles

Acceptable proof of immunity to measles (Rubella) is one of the following:
  • Two doses of live measles vaccine administered after January 1, 1968.  The first dose must have been received on or after the first birthday and the second after 15 months of age. There must be a minimum interval of at least 28 days between the first and second doses of vaccine.  The immunization records must be specific enough to determine that the vaccine was given on or after the first birthday.  For example, if a record shows an immunization given 3/71, and the student's date of birth is 3/16/70, the exact date of immunization must be given to assure that the vaccine was given on or after the first birthday. It is recommended that if a second measles is needed, the student should receive a combined measles, mumps, rubella vaccination also known as MMR vaccine.
  • Serological proof of immunity is also acceptable.  This is a blood test, which determines the presence of protective measles antibodies indicative of immunity.  All blood tests must be performed by an approved medical laboratory.  The presence of protective antibodies constitutes sufficient proof of immunity.  A physician's interpretation of serological results must be submitted to the Student Health Center along with the actual blood test result. A statement from the diagnosing physician that the student had measles disease is also acceptable.
  • Students who are unable to prove a first measles immunization can submit documentation that they attended a primary or secondary school in the United States since 1980.  This option requires the student to submit a copy of an official transcript from a primary or secondary institution in the United States as proof of the first measles.  The student must then submit a certificate of immunization that documents a second dose of live measles vaccine administered within one year of attendance at Canisius College. Students can receive the second dose in the Student Health Center.
  • Student who have served in the armed forces and received an honorable discharge within 10 years of attendance at Canisius, can submit a copy of their DD214, honorable discharge as proof of vaccination.  However, the veteran must send for military vaccination records and attempt to get those records as soon as possible.  In the event of an outbreak of either measles, mumps or rubella, veterans without military vaccination records on file will be excluded from the college.

Please note that any measles vaccination given before 1968 is acceptable only if the vaccination record specifies the vaccine administered was live.

Mumps

Acceptable proof of immunity to Mumps is one of the following:
  • A single dose of live mumps vaccine given after January 1, 1969, and on or after the first birthday.  Records must be specific enough to determine that the vaccine was given on or after the first birthday.  For example, if a record shows an immunization given 3/71 and the student's date of birth is 3/16/70, then the exact date of immunization must be checked to assure that the vaccine was administered on or after the first birthday.
  • Serological proof of immunity to mumps.  This is a blood test to detect an adequate level of antibodies to mumps disease.  The blood test must be done by an approved medical laboratory.  The laboratory result and a physician's interpretation of the results must be submitted.
  • A statement from a diagnosing physician or health care provider that the student had mumps disease.
  • For those who have served in the armed forces within 10 years of attendance at Canisius can submit a copy of their honorable discharge (DD214) as proof of vaccination pending receipt of immunization records from the armed services.

Rubella

Acceptable proof of immunity to Rubella (German Measles) is one of the following:
  • A single dose of live rubella virus vaccine given on or after the first birthday, and after January 1, 1969.  Records must be specific enough to determine that the vaccine was given on or after the first birthday.  For example, if a record shows an immunization given 3/71, and the student's date of birth is 3/16/70, than the exact date of immunization must be given to assure the vaccine was given on or after the first birthday.
  • Serologic evidence of immunity is also acceptable. This is a blood test, which determines the presence of rubella antibodies indicative of immunity.  All blood tests must be performed by an approved medical laboratory.  The presence of antibodies at any measurable level constitutes sufficient proof of immunity.  A physician's interpretation of serological results must be submitted along with the actual lab result.
  • Students who have served in the armed forces can submit proof of honorable discharge within 10 years of attendance at Canisius, as evidence of vaccination pending receipt of military vaccination records.

A physician statement of disease history is NOT acceptable for rubella, since rubella rashes resemble rashes of other diseases; it is therefore impossible to reliably diagnose on clinical evidence alone.

Meningitis

All students, registered for 6 or more credits, regardless of birth date, are required to receive information about the risk of meningococcal disease and the benefit of vaccination.  Students are required to read the information and either obtain the meningitis vaccine or sign a vaccine refusal statement within thirty days of first class attendance. Submit your meningitis response form online.

Medical Exemptions

Medical exemptions can be demonstrated by having a licensed physician or nurse practitioner certify in writing that one or more of the required immunizations may be detrimental to the student's health or is otherwise medically contraindicated. The medical exemption must specify the duration of the exemption.  The requirements will then be waived until such immunization is determined no longer detrimental or otherwise medically contraindicated.  Students who have temporary medical exemptions will be kept on a separate listing and will be notified in writing of need to submit immunization records after the temporary medical exemption date.

Religious Exemptions

Religious exemptions can be demonstrated by submitting a written and signed statement from the student, or in the event, the student is a minor, from their parents or guardians, that they hold sincere and genuine religious beliefs, which prohibit immunization of the students.  This statement must be detailed enough to prove to the College that the beliefs are religious, not philosophical, and sincerely and genuinely held and submitted to the Director of Student Health prior to class attendance. The religious exemption form can be found in the health form section of this web site and must be notarized prior to submission to Student Health

Non-Compliant Students Notification Process

Student Health communicates with all students using college e-mail.  The first notification is sent to non-compliant students two weeks after the start of the semester.  Weekly e-mail reminders are sent until day 30 of the semester.

After 30 days, non compliant students are notified via college e-mail that their registration has been cancelled, they are excluded from class and must vacate college housing. 

Parents of minor students will receive a letter warning at week two and registration cancellation notification letter 30 days after the semester began. Parents of undergraduate students who have given the college an e-mail address will receive an e-mail notice of non compliance and pending registration cancellations.

Holds and registration cancellations cannot be lifted until all immunization requirements have been fully met. Academic deans and faculty are notified of non compliant students.

Transfer of Immunization Records or Physical Examination Form To Another School

Print a copy of your immunization records for measles, mumps, rubella and meningitis.

If you want the Student Health Center to send your physical examination or immunization records to a school, physician, or employer,  fill out the Authorization to Disclose Health Information.  Requests must be signed by the student and completed fully including what information is to be released.  It takes one week for requests for records to be processed. The Student Health Center does not fax any health information including immunizations to other schools, providers or to the student. Records will be mailed or students can pick up their records. Student Health charges $0.75 per page charge to copy immunizations, physical examination forms and  any other medical records.

Immunizations Fees

The Student Health Center does offer immunizations on campus.  The rates for immunizations are listed below.  Students must pay cash at time of the vaccine as the Student Health Center does not bill insurance providers for vaccine fees.

Vaccination

 Rate

Meningococcal Vaccine 

$ 100

Tetanus/Diptheria/pertussis (Tdap)   

 40

Measles, Mumps & Rubella   

 57

T-Spot Blood Test for TB   

 83
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