As National Immunization Awareness Month draws to a close, special thanks to JoLynn P. Montgomery, PhD, MPH, of the American College Health Association (ACHA) for this guest post on the importance of immunization for college students. Montgomery chairs the ACHA Vaccine Preventable Disease Advisory Committee and is senior manager, Applied Public Health, in the Office of the Chief Health Officer at the University of Michigan.
Packing for college often means checking off essentials like bedding and school supplies. But one of the most important items on a student’s move-in checklist isn’t packed in a box. Making sure vaccinations are up to date before arriving on campus is one of the simplest and most effective ways students can prepare for college. Vaccinations protect the student and their campus community.
Why Vaccines Belong on Every College Checklist
College students are generally young and healthy, but they are also entering an environment where infectious diseases can spread quickly. Shared housing, large social networks, crowded events, and travel, combined with managing healthcare independently for the first time, make the college years an important opportunity for vaccination.
The American College Health Association’s (ACHA) Vaccine-Preventable Diseases Advisory Committee provides vaccination recommendations(opens in new tab) specifically for college students. These recommendations reflect the unique risks common to campus communities, as well as scientific evidence about vaccine safety and effectiveness.
Vaccination programs at colleges and universities focus on three goals:
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- Prevent severe illness
- Prevent outbreaks on campus
- Minimize disruption to the academic experience
Each year, college campuses across the US experience outbreaks of measles, mumps, pertussis, meningitis, and influenza—all diseases for which vaccines have proven to reduce risk and lessen impact.
ACHA recommends that college students be up to date on routine childhood vaccinations, including measles vaccination, and receive vaccines for seasonal respiratory illnesses, such as influenza (flu) and COVID-19. ACHA also recommends vaccination against meningococcal disease caused by five serogroups: A, B, C, W, and Y. In addition, students should receive the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, which helps prevent several types of cancer. Students should also check the date of their last tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis vaccine, as a booster may be needed depending on when they received their last dose.
ACHA urges students, families, and healthcare professionals to discuss the unique risks of college life. For example, some of the risks of college living, such as shared housing and jam-packed social events, create a perfect environment for the meningococcal bacteria to spread.
Meningococcal disease is rare, but it can be devastating. It progresses quickly and may lead to meningitis (which is swelling to the protective membranes of the brain and spinal column), bloodstream infection, long-term disability, or death. Since 2011, meningococcal disease outbreaks on US college campuses have been driven by serogroup B, underscoring the importance of receiving vaccination for all five meningococcal serogroups before students arrive on campus.
How Colleges Can Support High Vaccination Rates
Colleges and universities are encouraged to implement robust programs and policies that promote high vaccination coverage among students. This may look different at each institution, but generally includes:
- Clearly communicated vaccination recommendations or requirements
- Systems for collecting vaccination records
- Access to vaccines for students who are not fully vaccinated
- Health professionals who can discuss individual vaccination questions
Parents, guardians, and healthcare professionals can help students prepare for college by helping them make sure they are up to date on all recommended vaccinations before move-in day. Students should be familiar with their immunization records, check their college’s vaccine requirements, and ask questions.
Vaccination is one of the simplest and most effective ways to help students stay healthy, protect their classmates, and avoid academic disruptions. We can all spread the message that vaccination helps keep our college campuses safer and healthier.
NFID has resources to help you find out what vaccines you and your family need. To join the conversation and get the latest news on infectious diseases:
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- Listen and subscribe to the Infectious IDeas podcast
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