GETTING VACCINATED FOR COLLEGE  

Why get vaccinated?  How do vaccines work? 

   

Vaccines prevent diseases that can be dangerous, or even
deadly. Vaccines greatly reduce the risk of infection by
working with the body’s immune system to safely develop
immunity. When you get vaccinated, you contribute to
herd immunity. Herd immunity occurs when a significant
number of people have been vaccinated. These high
vaccination rates prevent the spread of disease because few
people are susceptible.
While infections that can be prevented by vaccination have
become less prominent in the United States, they still exist
in other parts of the world. Until the global eradication of
all vaccine-preventable diseases, everyone is at risk of
infection and should be vaccinated.
Immunization Requirements   infection goes away.
To understand how vaccines work, it’s important to understand
how the body fights infection. The immune system protects the
body from infection by identifying and destroying the harmful
pathogens it comes into contact with. Exposure to a pathogen for
the first time initiates an immune response, where the immune
system produces pathogen-specific antibodies that destroy the
pathogen. Once the infection has been successfully eliminated,
the antibodies remain in the body. If the immune system ever
encounters the same pathogen again, the remaining antibodies
will be able to eliminate the pathogen before it becomes harmful.
Vaccines work in the same way, except the pathogens they
contain have been weakened or inactivated to a point where they
are unable to cause infection. Vaccines develop immunity by
imitating an infection that prompts the immune system to
produce antibodies that remain in the body once the imitation

Due to the communal living spaces on college campuses,

college students are at a higher risk for certain infections.
To help prevent the spread of infectious germs, many
colleges require incoming students to be up to date on
certain vaccinations. Vaccination requirements depend on
the school and the state in which the school is located, so
check your college’s vaccination requirements to make sure
you’re fully covered.
If you are unsure if you have received a certain vaccine,
contact the doctor’s office or medical clinic where you
received your shots. If you went to a school that required
certain vaccinations, they may also have a copy of your
records.
Proof of Immunization  area.
The immune system begins creating antibodies immediately after
you receive a vaccine. On average, it takes anywhere from 7-21
days for your immune system to develop immunity.
Where to get vaccinated
Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent disease. Contact
your doctor’s office to schedule an appointment. If you don’t
have a primary care physician, many recommended vaccines are
also available at local pharmacies, grocery stores, urgent care
clinics, and public health centers.
For more information on vaccine clinics near you, visit the
Vaccine Finder at ​vaccines.gov​. Enter your area code or city in the
Vaccine Finder for a list of places you can get vaccines in your

After you receive the vaccines required by your college,  

you must provide proof of immunization to begin the  
school year. To submit your proof of immunization,
check your college requirements to ensure you submit  
them correctly and by the deadline. If you are currently in  
the process of receiving your vaccinations at the time of
the deadline, notify your college. Keep in mind that all
 
immunization documentation and information must be  
certified by a healthcare provider or a medical records
official. Most colleges have a pre-existing form online that
you can submit electronically or through the mail. If you
have already received a required vaccine, you can submit
your immunization record. If you are unable to find your
immunization record, you will need to be re-vaccinated or
have a blood test to confirm your immunity. If you have
any questions or concerns, contact your future school for
guidance.
 
 GETTING VACCINATED FOR THE MILITARY   
Why get vaccinated?  How do vaccines work? 
   

Vaccines prevent diseases that can be dangerous, or even
deadly. Vaccines greatly reduce the risk of infection by
working with the body’s immune system to safely develop
immunity. When you get vaccinated, you contribute to
herd immunity. Herd immunity occurs when a significant
number of people have been vaccinated. These high
vaccination rates prevent the spread of disease because few
people are susceptible.
While infections that can be prevented by vaccination have
become less prominent in the United States, they still exist
in other parts of the world. Until the global eradication of
all vaccine-preventable diseases, everyone is at risk of
infection and should be vaccinated.
Immunization Requirements   infection goes away.
To understand how vaccines work, it’s important to understand
how the body fights infection. The immune system protects the
body from infection by identifying and destroying the harmful
pathogens it comes into contact with. Exposure to a pathogen for
the first time initiates an immune response, where the immune
system produces pathogen-specific antibodies that destroy the
pathogen. Once the infection has been successfully eliminated,
the antibodies remain in the body. If the immune system ever
encounters the same pathogen again, the remaining antibodies
will be able to eliminate the pathogen before it becomes harmful.
Vaccines work in the same way, except the pathogens they
contain have been weakened or inactivated to a point where they
are unable to cause infection. Vaccines develop immunity by
imitating an infection that prompts the immune system to
produce antibodies that remain in the body once the imitation

Strict immunization requirements are in place to protect

military personnel from infectious disease. As a future The immune system begins creating antibodies immediately after
member of the military, you are required to receive certain you receive a vaccine. On average, it takes anywhere from 7-21
vaccines when you enter basic training and before you days for your immune system to develop immunity.
deploy. Vaccinations are administered on the basis of
military occupation, the location of deployment, and
mission requirements. Military health personnel will ensure
Additional Resources 
you are up to date on routine vaccinations, and that you Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent disease. For
receive any additional vaccinations you may need. more information about what vaccinations you may receive or
the immunization process, contact your recruitment officer or
When you enlist, you will receive a comprehensive physical health clinic. You can also visit the Centers for Disease Control
exam that includes verifying your immunity status against and Prevention (CDC) website or v​ accines.gov​ for more specific
certain vaccine-preventable diseases. Health personnel will information regarding military immunization requirements.
confirm your immunity status to certain
vaccine-preventable diseases via laboratory blood test.
 
Blood testing allows health personnel to directly check  
your antibody levels, which can determine if you are  
immune to a specific disease. Health personnel will then
assess your immunity status and determine which  
vaccinations you need to receive. If your antibodies for a  
certain disease are low, you may need to receive a booster
dose of that vaccine to return your immunity to protective
levels. You may also need to receive additional vaccinations
based on your assignment or deployment location. Health
personnel will inform you of what vaccines you need to
receive and where you can do so.