Required Immunizations

New York State Public Health Law (PHL) Section 2165 requires all students attending post-secondary institutions who were born on or after January 1, 1957 and registered for 6 or more credits to demonstrate proof of immunity against measles, mumps, and rubella. Students born before January 1, 1957 are not required to submit proof of immunization.

Failure to submit proof of immunization prior to the 30th day of the regular trimester will result in disenrollment from all classes. Disenrolled students are not permitted to be physically present in any classes. Disenrolled students are not entitled to any refund of tuition and fees.

A certificate of immunization (required to provide proof of immunity) includes documents such as a certificate from a health care provider, immunization registry record, military immunization record, immunization portion of a passport, or an immunization card signed by a health care provider. An immunization record may also show health care provider diagnosis of disease or laboratory evidence of immunity. Immunization records must be signed or stamped by a health care provider.

Immunization Requirements

Measles — Proof of immunity must be demonstrated by meeting one of the following three requirements:

• Two doses of live measles vaccine. The first dose must have been received no more than 4 days prior to the first birthday and the second dose received at least 28 days after the first dose, or

• Physician diagnosis of disease, or

• Serologic evidence of immunity.

Mumps — Proof of immunity must be demonstrated by meeting one of the following three requirements:

• One dose of live mumps vaccine received no more than 4 days prior to the first birthday, or

• Physician diagnosis of disease, or

• Serologic evidence of immunity.

Rubella — Proof of immunity must be demonstrated by meeting one of the following three requirements:

• One dose of live rubella vaccine received no more than 4 days prior to the first birthday, or

• Serologic evidence of disease, or

• Please note: Clinical diagnosis of rubella disease is not acceptable as proof of immunity.

Exemptions from Immunizations

1. A medical exemption must be written by a physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner and state that a valid contraindication to vaccination exists. The exemption must specify which immunizations are contraindicated and why.

2. A religious exemption is a notarized written and signed statement from the student (or parent or guardian of students less than 18 years of age) that he/she objects to the immunization due to his/her religious beliefs.

3. Military waiver — Students honorably discharged from the military within 10 years from the date of application to this institution may attend classes pending the receipt of immunization records from the armed services.

Meningococcal Meningitis

Under PHL Section 2167, New York State Public Health Law requires that all students enrolled for six or more credits must complete the Meningitis Vaccination Response Form. Students must provide a record of Meningococcal Meningitis immunization within the past 10 years, or an acknowledgement of the disease risks and refusal of the immunization.

Reviewed 2026 03