STUDENT VACCINATION REPORTING POLICY

All incoming first-year and new undergraduate transfer students are asked to report their immunization status for specific vaccines.  Students are expected to provide accurate and truthful information about their vaccine status. Within the reporting form, individuals may indicate they do not wish to report their status for one or more vaccines. Students will be considered unvaccinated for specific vaccines if: (1) they self-report they are unvaccinated, (2) they self-report an incomplete series of vaccinations, or (3) they fail to report.  In the event of a communicable disease outbreak, unvaccinated students (and those considered unvaccinated) will receive specific outreach to prevent the disease from spreading.

Although the university strongly recommends all CDC recommended vaccines, this policy does not require vaccination, only requests the reporting of vaccine status. 

POLICY STATEMENT

GVSU strongly supports the use of vaccines to protect the health of our university community.  Immunizations offer protection from vaccine-preventable diseases and outbreaks. Therefore, it is recommended that students, faculty and staff be vaccinated with routine immunizations as recommended by the CDC and/or individual health care providers.  While not all individuals may choose to be vaccinated, the university acknowledges the importance of the collection of vaccine status for quick response to outbreaks of communicable diseases, which can cause great disruption, negative impact on community well-being, and additional burdens for students, faculty, staff, and their families.

Confidentiality and Privacy: Vaccination information will be treated in accordance with applicable laws and policies on confidentiality and privacy.                                                                                                                          

PROCEDURES

Overview and General Information

All incoming first-year and new undergraduate transfer students are asked to report vaccination status (for the vaccines listed below) prior to the first payment deadline of a given semester for students. 

Relevant vaccinations:

• COVID Initial Series
  • Two Doses
• COVID booster
  • Most Current
• Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) Vaccine
  • Two Doses
• Meningococcal Quadrivalent (A,C,W, Y) Vaccine
  • Two Doses
• Serogroup B Meningococcal Vaccine
  • Two Doses
• Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis Vaccine (Tdap)
  • One Doses
• Varicella Vaccine
  • Two Doses

Vaccines are available at the Campus Health Center and the GVSU Family Health Center, local pharmacies, primary health care providers, and local health departments. Students are encouraged to call ahead to inquire about fees.  Students may want to check with their health insurance provider to see if they will cover part of the costs. 

Ways to Verify Vaccination Status

1. Parents or guardians, hometown primary care provider or local pharmacy.
2. The Campus Health Center and the GVSU Family Health Center if your state of origin is Michigan.
3. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Michigan Immunization Portal at Michigan.gov/MiImmsportal.

For additional information please see the  GVSU VACCINE REPORTING - GVSU Health Hub - Grand Valley State University