Immunizations

All Degree-seeking and ESL+ Certificate Students

Must show immunity to measles, mumps, and rubella. Acceptable proof of immunity includes:

• Immunization cards or records from childhood, in English or officially translated, or a New School Immunization Form, signed and stamped by your medical provider, showing proof of having received two measles vaccinations, one mumps vaccination, and one rubella vaccination. The dates of these vaccinations must be indicated by your medical provider or included on your submitted immunization record. These vaccinations must have been received on or after your first birthday and at least 28 days apart.
• Official immunization records from another school you attended, such as high school or college.
• A copy of an official lab report (blood antibody titer), showing immunity to measles, mumps, and rubella.
• Proof of honorable discharge from the armed services within ten years from the date of application enables students to attend while obtaining official immunization records.
• If you have had the measles and/or mumps in the past, no proof of vaccination is necessary. However, the date of infection must be documented and verified by a medical provider to be accepted.

Must complete a Meningococcal response form:

To complete the form, log in to the SHS Portal, click on Medical Clearances, then click on Update, next to Meningococcal Response Form. If you choose the option on the form stating you have received the meningitis ACWY vaccine, you must upload documentation of the vaccine; only meningitis ACWY vaccines received within the past five years meet the requirement.

COVID-19 vaccine is now strongly encouraged but not required: 

Students are advised to upload their COVID vaccine information to the SHS portal along with their other vaccine records. Regardless of prior COVID vaccine history, the current CDC recommendation is that all individuals age six and older receive one bivalent Moderna or Pfizer vaccine to be considered up to date. If you have received a bivalent dose, you are up to date at this time.

Must show immunity to measles, mumps, and rubella. Acceptable proof of immunity includes: 

• Immunization cards or records from childhood, in English or officially translated, or a New School Immunization Form, signed and stamped by your medical provider, showing proof of having received two measles vaccinations, one mumps vaccination, and one rubella vaccination. The dates of these vaccinations must be indicated by your medical provider or included on your submitted immunization record. These vaccinations must have been received on or after your first birthday and at least 28 days apart.
• Official immunization records from another school you attended, such as high school or college.
• A copy of an official lab report (blood antibody titer), showing immunity to measles, mumps, and rubella.
• Proof of honorable discharge from the armed services within ten years from the date of application, enabling students to attend while obtaining official immunization records.
• If you have had the measles and/or mumps in the past, no proof of vaccination is necessary. However, date of infection must be documented and verified by a medical provider to be accepted. 

Students living in university housing are required to submit proof of having received a meningitis ACWY vaccine within the past five years.

If your meningitis ACWY vaccination date becomes more than five old while you are living on campus, you are required to receive a new meningitis ACWY vaccine on that day. For information about meningococcal meningitis, please visit cdc.gov/meningitis.

Must complete a Meningococcal response form:

To complete the form, log in to the SHS Portal, click on Medical Clearances, then click on Update, next to Meningococcal Response Form. If you choose the option on the form stating you have received the meningitis ACWY vaccine, you must upload documentation of the vaccine; only meningitis ACWY vaccines received within the past five years meet the requirement.

COVID-19 vaccine is now strongly encouraged but not required: 

Students are advised to upload their COVID vaccine information to the SHS portal along with their other vaccine records. Regardless of prior COVID vaccine history, the current CDC recommendation is that all individuals age six and older receive one bivalent Moderna or Pfizer vaccine to be considered up to date. If you have received a bivalent dose, you are up to date at this time.

Must complete a Meningococcal response form:

To complete the form, log in to the SHS Portal, click on Medical Clearances, then click on Update, next to Meningococcal Response Form. If you choose the option on the form stating you have received the meningitis ACWY vaccine, you must upload documentation of the vaccine; only meningitis ACWY vaccines received within the past five years meet the requirement.

If your status changes (you add an in-person class), you will need to meet the requirements listed for degree-seeking students taking at least one class in person.

COVID-19 vaccine is now strongly encouraged but not required: 

Students are advised to upload their COVID vaccine information to the SHS portal along with their other vaccine records. Regardless of prior COVID vaccine history, the current CDC recommendation is that all individuals age six and older receive one bivalent Moderna or Pfizer vaccine to be considered up to date. If you have received a bivalent dose, you are up to date at this time.

Continuing and Professional Education Online-only Students

If you are taking classes online only and will not be entering the NYC campus, you do not need to meet any of the requirements.

If your status changes (you add a degree-seeking class), you will need to meet the requirements for that category.

Religious Exemption
If a student is unable to receive vaccinations for religious reasons, the student must upload a completed and signed Request for Religious Exemption Form along with a letter signed by the student explaining how their religion prevents them from receiving the vaccinations, along with any supporting scripture.

Medical Exemption
If a student is unable to receive a vaccination for medical reasons, the student must upload a completed and signed Request for Medical Exemption Form. Student Health Services staff may request additional medical information from the student’s provider enabling them to understand the necessity of an exemption. In addition, any pregnant student can be temporarily exempted from the requirement if medically necessary.

All Exemption Request Forms can be downloaded in the SHS Portal under Downloadable Forms. Once the form is complete, it can be uploaded in the downloadable form section.

Students who are exempt from receiving measles, mumps, rubella, and/or meningitis ACWY vaccinations may be excluded from classes and campus (dorms, university buildings, etc.) in the event of an outbreak. Any expenses incurred by a student as a result of exclusion from classes, campus facilities, and/or university housing are the sole responsibility of the student.

Student Health Services offers an MMR vaccine clinic for students before the start of the fall and spring semesters.

The fall 2023 immunization clinic will be held at Student Health Services, 80 Fifth Avenue, 3rd floor, August 21–25. We offer MMR vaccines free of charge. To schedule an appointment for the immunization clinic, log in to shsportal.newschool.edu.

In addition, many routine vaccinations, such as those for MMR and meningitis ACWY, can be obtained free of charge through your insurance plan at various providers.

Students who encounter obstacles to vaccine access should contact [email protected].

Below are informational fact sheets for the required immunizations:

• MMR Vaccine Fact Sheet
• Influenza (Flu) Vaccine Fact Sheet
• Hepatitis A Vaccine Fact Sheet
• Hepatitis B Vaccine Fact Sheet
• Tdap Vaccine Fact Sheet