* Students in health professions may have additional immunization requirements and fewer exemptions.

† Minimum interval of 4 weeks between doses is valid. 

‡ ACIP recommends MenACWY routinely at age 11 through 12 years, with a booster dose at age 16 years. First-year college students who live in residential housing are recommended to receive MenACWY if they did not receive a dose on or after their 16th birthday. 

§ First-year college students who live in residential housing are recommended to receive MenB if they did not receive a dose on or after their 16th birthday. College students are at increased risk, especially those who are freshmen, attend a four-year university, live in on-campus housing, or participate in sororities and fraternities. Students of any age determined to be at-risk in an institutional outbreak attributable to a meningococcal vaccine serogroup are also recommended to get vaccinated. 

¶ Check with your doctor or health plan about vaccine availability and coverage.

** Additional recommendations include: Completion of primary tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis series; Tdap or Td booster every 10 years after initial series. ​

Additional ACIP Immunization Recommendations:

• Hepatitis A vaccine (if student desires protection)
• Poliovirus vaccine (if did not complete series as a child for persons under age 18 years)
• Vaccines for international travel, based on destination.
• Students with certain medical conditions (e.g., diabetes mellitus) or certain risk factors may need additional immunizations.
  

Tuberculosis (TB) Risk Assessment:

All incoming students should be assessed for their risk of developing TB. Model TB risk assessment questionnaires suitable for adaptation for student acceptance packets, as well as recommendations for evaluation and treatment of students with a positive screening test, are available at the American College Health Association​​ or TB Risk Assessment websites. Students with identified risk factors for TB, such as birth in a country with an elevated TB rate (includes countries other than the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, or Western and North European countries), should have a tuberculin skin test (TST) or Interferon-gamma release blood test (IGRA). IGRA is preferred over TST for non-U.S. born persons.

Exemptions for Students:
Students may be granted medical exemptions from required immunizations if they can provide a signed statement from a
physician documenting either:
a) the student has a physical condition or medical circumstance that contraindicates vaccination.
b) other evidence of immunity

• MMR: born before 1957 or positive IgG serology for measles, mumps, and rubella.
• Varicella: born in U.S. before 1980, physician certification of history of chickenpox disease or shingles, or positive varicella IgG (prior disease).

Documentation:

Using an immunization registry to look up vaccine history is highly recommended. All immunizations in California are required to be entered  into a California registry (see California Immunization Registry for more information). The completed immunization record, exemption documentation, tuberculosis risk questionnaire and any action indicated (e.g., TB test [yes or no]), results of any TB test (e.g., type and date of test and skin test reading (in mm) or IGRA results), and evaluation for active TB should be documented and submitted to school prior to attendance. This information should be maintained in each student’s health or academic file in paper or electronic form.​

Meningococcal Informing Law

California State law mandates that UC’s with on-campus housing inform students about meningococcal disease and vaccine. UC’s must also document students’ receipt of information and whether they choose to get immunized (Health and Safety Code Sections 120395–120399).

• Off to College - Meningococcal Flyer (PDF)
  

Required Immunizations for the California State University System

The CSU recommends that students are current for the immunizations listed in the table above.​​ A CSU campus and/or campus-sponsored program whose participants may have increased exposure risk are authorized to require documentation of recommended immunizations in accordance with California Department of Public Health (CDPH) guidelines. Please confirm details with your specific CSU campus of interest.

• Executive Order #803 Revised February 14, 2023 (PDF)
  

Required Immunizations at the University of California

The University of California is committed to protecting the health and well-being of their students. Vaccination against potentially severe and preventable illnesses is a proven strategy to protect individuals and the community. Therefore, UC requires ALL incoming students to follow the recommendations of the California Department of Public Health Immunization Branch for immunizations and screening for tuberculosis prior to beginning their studies at any of the UC campuses. All students on UC campuses are required to document that immunization and TB screening requirements have been met. Please confirm details with your specific UC campus of interest.

UC Policy on Vaccination Programs - June 26, 2024 (PDF)​

• University of California, Berkeley
• University of California, Davis
• Univer​sity of California, Irvine​
• University of California, Los Angeles
• University of California, Merced
• University of California, Riverside
• University of California, Santa Barbara
• University of California, Santa Cruz
• University of California, San Diego
• University of California, San Francisco

Resources

• Health and Safety Code
• CHAPTER 1.5. Immunization of College-Age Students [120390 - 120390.7]
  

• Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Template Letter for New Students (PDF)​​
  

• CHAPTER 1.7. Meningococcal Immunization [120395 - 120399]

• Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendations ACIP Vac​cine Recommendations | CDC
• American College Health Association (ACHA) Guidelines for immunizations ​