Immunizations & Vaccines

Help ensure a healthy College of Charleston campus with these required immunizations and vaccines: MMR, Meningitis & TDap

Welcome to the Cougar Family! The College of Charleston requires three vaccines for the safety of our campus community:

  • Measles, Mumps, Rubella
    - Dose 1 must be given at first birthday or after and Dose 2 must be at least 28 days later
    - This requirement only applies to students born after 1956

  • Quadrivalent Meningitis
    - Administered at 16 years of age or after
    - Meningitis Serogroup B is not required
    - Also known as MCV4, Menactra, Menveo or Prenbaya
    - Students over the age of 24 are not required to get this vaccine if they do not already have one

  • TDAP (Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis)
    - Must be given within the last 10 years

ENTERING IMMUNIZATION DATES & IMMUNIZATION RECORDS

Log into your student health patient portal at: https://cofc.medicatconnect.com/.

You must complete the following steps in order to complete the process correctly. 

Once in your portal, click on the menu bar and select "Immunization Entry/Status".

  1. Choose the drop-down arrow next to the required immunization that you are entering. Manually fill in the dates the immunization was given as listed on your Immunization Record.
  2. Continue to follow step #1 to enter ALL Required Immunization Dates.
  3. Click 'Submit' on bottom right of page and you will be brought to the page to upload your supporting documents. (If you leave the page without uploading your Immunization Record the Dates you entered will not be saved.)
  4. Choose 'Immunization Record' and click on 'Select File'.
  5. Locate and choose the file that contains your Immunization Record.
    1. You can only upload one file at a time. If you have additional pages or files to upload to support your dates, go back to the Upload Document page and repeat steps 4 and 5 until all supporting documentation has been uploaded.

Once you have completed all of the above steps, a clinician at Student Health Services will review your dates and documents. Please allow at least 48 hours for processing. Once reviewed you will receive a Message in your portal confirming receipt and whether you are Complaint or Not Compliant. 

We are NOT able to accept faxed, mailed, emailed or hand delivered copies of immunization records.

Policies & Waiver

Can’t find your records? Try the following resources:
Log into your student health portal

Recommended Immunizations

Vaccine preventable diseases are still occurring on college campuses throughout the country.  The staff at Student Health Services strongly urges students and families to give careful thought to the following recommendations.  These recommendations are taken from the American College Health Association (ACHA) Vaccine Preventable Diseases Committee, Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and Travax. You can purchase vaccines through the Marketplace link.
  • Hepatitis B

    Hepatitis B is a serious disease caused by a virus that attacks the liver.  The virus, which is called Hepatitis B virus, can cause lifelong infection, cirrhosis of the liver, liver cancer, liver failure, and death.  Hepatitis B is a vaccine-preventable illness. 

    The Hepatitis B vaccines consist of a series of three vaccines given at intervals of 0 – 1 – 6 months.  This vaccine is available at the Student Health Service for a fee.

  • Hepatitis A

    Hepatitis A is a liver disease caused by the Hepatitis A virus. Hepatitis A can affect anyone.  In the United States, Hepatitis A can occur in situations ranging from isolated cases of disease to widespread epidemics. 

    Good personal hygiene and proper sanitation can help prevent Hepatitis A.  Students planning international travel and those with other risk factors should consider getting this vaccine.   This vaccine is given in a series of two vaccines at intervals of 0 – 6 months. Student Health Services offers this vaccine for a fee.

    Purchase vaccine in the Marketplace
  • Human Papillomavirus (HPV)

    Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is a vaccine that helps to protect against diseases such as cervical cancer and genital warts and is recommended for all college students through the age of 26. The vaccine is given in a series of three vaccines at intervals of 0 – 2 – 6 months. 

    Student Health Services does not carry this vaccine but can provide a prescription for the HPV vaccine to be administered at local pharmacies or Student Health Services.

  • Varicella

    Varicella also called the chicken pox vaccine is recommended to all college students who do not have evidence of immunity, such as a history of the disease or prior vaccination. 

    Two doses are recommended four weeks apart. Student Health does not offer the varicella vaccine but can draw titers to confirm immunity or direct students to local resources to obtain the vaccination if needed.

  • Influenza

    Influenza, also known as the flu, is a contagious disease that is caused by the influenza virus.  A flu shot can be given to anyone who wants to avoid the flu.  Because the flu shot is made from inactivated viruses, the shot cannot give you the flu. 

    Flu vaccines are available in late fall at the Student Health Services and on certain dates as part of campus wide flu shot campaigns.  Flu vaccine is free to all students

  • Polio

    Polio primary series in childhood of 4 doses is recommended for all students. Boosters for certain international travel itineraries may be recommended.

Notification of Risk

SC STATE LAW SECTION 59-101-290. 

Notification of risk of contracting certain diseases if living on-campus.


(A) A public institution of higher learning shall notify incoming students, or the parent or guardian of an incoming student under the age of eighteen, of the risk of contracting meningococcal disease and Hepatitis B if living in on-campus student housing.

(B) A public institution of higher learning shall include vaccination against meningococcal disease and Hepatitis B as recommended immunization in health and medical information provided to students or prospective students and parents or guardians.

(C) A private institution of higher learning may elect to be governed by this section and at any time may, in its sole discretion, remove itself from such governance.

HISTORY: 2002 Act No. 317, Section 1.