8.4.1 Immunization Compliance Policy

Policy Statement

Vaccine preventable illnesses continue to occur on American campuses and pose a threat to the public’s health. Knowing the vaccination status of individual students can assist in minimizing that risk. The goal of Student Health Services and the College of Charleston is to provide adequate protection against vaccine preventable diseases by requiring newly entering students (including transfer students) to be vaccinated and/or screened for certain contagious diseases.

 

This goal can best be achieved through a prematriculation immunization requirement. The College of Charleston immunization requirements are consistent with the recommendations of the American College Health Association (ACHA) and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). Exemptions from this policy may be granted in the event of valid medical contraindications or for documented religious reasons. In the event of certain communicable disease emergencies, these exempted students will be excluded from campus activities, until such time as is specified by South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SC-DHEC).

Policy Manager and Responsible Department or Office

Director - Student Health Services

Policy

Compliance with all immunizations, post screening tests, treatment regimens, and monitoring is mandatory with exemptions for valid medical contraindications or documented religious reasons and allowable exceptions based on unique circumstances. The required immunizations, exemptions, and exceptions as well as recommended immunizations are discussed further in the Procedures Related to the Policy below.

Departments/Offices Affected by the Policy

Compliance and non-compliance with this policy has a campus-wide impact on the health and safety of the College community at large. Logistically Student Health Services and the Office of the Registrar will be most directly impacted.

Purpose/Reason for the Policy

This Policy describes the College of Charleston’s measures to manage the large number of chemical and biological agents used in student and research laboratories at all College of Charleston facilities and locations.

Procedures Related to the Policy

Requirements of all Students

  1. Meningococcal

    • All first-year students aged 24 and under are required to provide proof of immunization of the quadrivalent meningococcal vaccine (A, C, Y, W – NOT Serogroup B) or must sign a liability waiver/release declining the vaccine. A parent or legal guardian’s signature will be required if the student declines and is under the age of 18.

    • If 2-5 years has elapsed since the student’s most recent vaccine administration with MPSV4, the College of Charleston Student Health Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggest the Menactra vaccine.

    • If more than 5 years have elapsed since the student’s most recent vaccine administration with Menomune, Menevo, the Menactra vaccine is required, or the student must supply a signed liability waiver/release declining vaccination.

  2. Measles, Mumps and Rubella

    • All students born after 1956 must provide proof of immunization of Rubeola (red measles), Mumps and Rubella (German measles).

    • Acceptable immunization records include two MMR shots administered after 1967 and after the student’s first birthday or positive serum titer (blood antibody) providing evidence of immunity.

  3. Tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis (TDaP)

    • Immunization/booster within the last 10 years.

    • TDaP cannot expire within three months of starting classes or students will be considered non-compliant. 

Additional Requirements for International Students

  1. International students who arrived within the previous five (5) years where tuberculosis is endemic (visit www.cdc.gov) or any additional countries designated by the Director of Student Health Services must be screened for tuberculosis.

  2. Tuberculosis screening services will be provided by Student Health Services and will be performed in accordance with recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) and other appropriate guidelines.

  3. Tuberculosis screening may be performed prior to arrival on campus. Screening must be performed and documented using the College of Charleston’s immunization form. The purified protein derivative (PPD) must be used for initial screening.

  4. International students and other designated students arriving on campus without a tuberculosis exam will be directed to the Student Health Center for testing and evaluation.

  5. Students who report to campus with documentation of a positive purified protein derivative (PPD) test or who test positive at the Student Health Center will be evaluated for further testing and possible medical intervention. A chest radiograph is required for positive PPD’s.

  6. Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination does not preclude testing of a member of a high-risk group. Evidence of BCG is not acceptable to meet the tuberculosis screening requirement.

  7. The costs incurred to rule out active or latent TB disease will be the sole responsibility of the student.

Exemptions to Immunization

  1. Religious Beliefs 

    • a. Exemption from immunization may be granted based on an individual’s religious beliefs. For purposes of this policy, "religious beliefs" include those that are theistic in nature, as well as non-theistic moral or ethical beliefs as to what is right and wrong which are sincerely held with the strength of traditional religious views. Personal preferences do not constitute religious beliefs. 

    • b. Individuals requesting exemption due to religious beliefs must provide a Student Liability Release and Waiver form and a written statement explaining why immunization is contrary to the individual's religious beliefs. to Student Health Services prior to registration. The Release and Waiver form and the written statement should contain the notarized signatures of both the individual and their religious leader. 

  2. Medical Contraindications

    • a. Exemption to immunization may be granted based on an individual’s medical contraindications.  Personal preferences do not constitute medical contraindications. 

    • b. Individuals requesting exemption due to medical contraindications must provide a Student Liability Release and Waiver form and a written statement explaining the nature of the medical contraindication(s) to Student Health Services prior to registration. The Release and Waiver form and the written statement should contain the notarized signatures of both the individual and their medical physician or practitioner. 

  3. Allowable Exceptions based on Unique Circumstances 

    • Students completing all coursework remotely.  Once any on-campus course resumes, immunization requirements must be met. 

    • International students may have health hold lifted temporarily for registration related to inability to access required immunizations in home country and time of arrival in the United States.  Holds will be reapplied one week after request from Registrar, International Student’s Office, or other designated college authority. 

    • Veteran students may have health holds lifted temporarily for registration related to difficulty in accessing military health records.  Holds will be reapplied one week after request from Registrar, Veteran’s Affairs office or other designated college authority. 

    • Students transitioning from a College of Charleston undergraduate program to a graduate program may have health holds lifted temporarily.  Holds will be reapplied one week after request from Registrar, Graduate Programs Office, or other designated college authorities. 

    • Students who provide proof of initial MMR vaccination may have the health hold lifted temporarily due to the 28-day waiting period to receive the second MMR administration required.  Holds will be placed back on one week after request from Registrar or other designated college authority.

    • Students under 16 years of age at time of enrollment will have the meningitis vaccine waived until their 16th birthday. 

    • Students enrolled in the Professional Development program who complete coursework remotely or at other off-campus locations. 

    • Dual enrolled students who are still enrolled in High School level coursework. 

    • Students enrolled in the EMBA program.

Recommended Vaccinations

In addition to the aforementioned requirements, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention along with the College of Charleston Student Health Services strongly recommends certain immunizations for the college population. These vaccines include:

  • HPV Vaccine-highly recommended for all females and males between the ages of 11-26

  • Hepatitis B

  • Varicella

  • Influenza (yearly)

  • Polio

  • A purified protein derivative (PPD) test for possible tuberculosis exposure is recommended for domestic students who have traveled to areas where tuberculosis is endemic. Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website for an up to date list at www.cdc.gov.

Reason for Revision

Updates former policy concerning meningococcal immunization, includes all other required and recommended vaccines and more accurately reflects what is being done on campus and at the College of Charleston Student Health Services with regard to vaccinations.

Related Policies, Documents or Forms

Student Health Services

8.4.1 Immunization Compliance Policy PDF

Revision Log

Issue Date: 7/20/2016

Last Review Date: 10/1/2020, 4/22/2026

Next Review Date: 05/01/2027

Web Publication Date: 4/22/2026