New York State Public Health Laws 2165 and 2167 requires students attending colleges and universities in New York to demonstrate immunity to measles, mumps and rubella and to be educated about the risk of meningococcal disease. These laws apply to all students registered for 6 or more credits including graduates, undergraduates, commuter, resident, domestic, international students, on line students in hybrid programs, and cross registered students .
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.
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 mealses, mumps or rubella. You do however need to complete the meningitis response form listed below.
Measles
Acceptable proof of immunity to measles (Rubeola) 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.
or
A statement from the diagnosing physician that the student had measles disease is also acceptable.
Please note that any measles vaccination given before 1968 is acceptable only if the vaccination record specifies the vaccine administered was live.
Measles or rubeola is also known as Red, Hard or 10 Days Measles.
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.
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.
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.
Rubella is also known as 3-Day Measles.
Health Forms
Health forms can be downloaded from the form section of this web site.
If your immunizations records are recorded on another form, your health care provider must sign or stamp the form, verifying vaccination dates.
An immunization record from a school previously attended, which specifies the products administered and the date of administration and whose source was a certificate of immunization from a health practitioner is acceptable proof of compliance.
If the student is in the process of completing the required immunizations, he/she must submit the following to the Student Health Center as soon as possible:
- Proof of at least one dose of live measles virus vaccine,
- Proof of immunity to mumps and rubella, and
- Proof of an appointment to return to a health practitioner for the remaining measles immunization.
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
Meningitis Requirement
All students, registered for 6 or more credits, regardless of birthdate, 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.
To read the information about meningococcal disease, click here. To submit your meningitis response form on-line click here.
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 can not be lifted until all immunization requirments have been fully met. Academic deans and faculty are notified of non compliant students.
Record Keeping
All immunization records and exemptions will be kept in the Student Health Center.
This information is confidential. Click here for information on confidentiality of medical information.
Immunization records will be held in the Student Health Center for ten years after the student leaves the college. After ten years, all records are destroyed. Students should keep a copy of all vaccination records stored with their birth certificate.
Transfer of Immunization Records or Physical Examination Form To Another School
To print a copy of your immunization records for measels, mumps, rubella and meningitis, click here.
If you want the Student Health Center to send your physical examination or immunization records to a school, physician, or employer, click here (.pdf) for 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 (7 days) 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 $.075 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 | $80 |
Community Resources for Immunizations
Immunizations are also available through County Health Departments, private physician offices , urgent care and travel clinics.