Required Health/Immunization Records

To ensure the health and safety of our campus community and meet guidelines established by the State of Illinois, specific student health / immunization records need to be on file in the Wellness Center.

Records must be submitted by:
August 1 for Fall semester enrollment, December 1st for Spring semester enrollment, and before participation in intercollegiate athletics.

• Required Immunizations
• Required Immunization Guidelines
• Proof of Immunity
• Immunization Exemptions
• Immunization Holds / Record Processing
• Physical Exam Guidelines
• “I do not have a record of my immunizations, what should I do?”
• “Where do I send my completed health/immunization records?”
• Requesting Health/Immunization Records from AU
• Recommended Immunizations
  

Required Immunizations

• Measles (Rubeola, Hard, Red, 10-day)
  Two doses required. Doses must have been administered at least one month apart, after your first birthday, and after 1/1/68
• Mumps
  One dose required. Dose must have been administered after your first birthday, and after 1/1/68
• Rubella (German Measles, 3-day)
  One dose required. Dose must have been administered after your first birthday, and after 6/69
• Tetanus / Diphtheria (Td)
  Last dose needs to have been administered within the last 10 years
  

Required Immunization Guidelines

The State of Illinois College/University Immunization Law (77 ILL. ADM. CODE 694) requires that the following students born on or after 1/1/57 provide proof of immunity to Measles, Mumps, Rubella and Tetanus/Diphtheria:

• All undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in more than 4 semester hours per 16 week semester and whose class sessions meet on the Aurora University campus.
• All residential students (students who will be living on-campus)
• Students enrolled in the 8 week modular format and are enrolled in more than 4 credit hours per 8 week module and whose class sessions meet on the Aurora University campus
• All international students (please contact the Wellness Center for additional requirements).

Proof of Immunity

Proof of immunity can be accomplished by providing any of the following:

• Month, day, and year immunizations were administered
• Month, day, and year you were diagnosed with the disease (acceptable for Measles and Mumps only)
• Submission of an antibody titer (blood test) lab report indicating immunity (acceptable for Measles, Mumps and Rubella).

Acceptable forms of documentation:

• Completed “Certificate of Health Examination and Immunity” form with documentation of required immunizations and health professional signature
• Immunization records from a prior school you have attended (high school, college/university). Must have school’s letterhead clearly visible to be considered admissible
• Military records that have documentation of dates for the required immunizations
• If you have had an antibody titer drawn (blood test), a copy of the actual antibody titer report indicating acceptable antibody levels must be submitted to the Wellness Center.

All immunization records must be in English and information must be clearly identifiable.

Immunization Exemptions

Medical Exemption
You may be exempt from one or more of the required immunization requirements by submitting a written statement from your physician indicating the nature and duration of the medical condition (including pregnancy) that contraindicates such immunization(s) and identification of the specific vaccines(s) that is(are) detrimental to your health. For your convenience a “Medical Exemption” form may be obtained from the Wellness Center’s Web site.

Medical exemptions related to pregnancy will be valid for the semester in which the completed Medical Exemption form was received in the Wellness Center. If medical exemption, related to pregnancy / breast feeding is requested beyond the semester in which the form was received, an additional medical exemption form is required at the onset of the subsequent semester.

Religious Exemption
You may be exempt from one or more of the required immunization by submitting a written statement dated and signed by you (student or parent/guardian if student is a minor) describing your objection to immunization based upon bona-fide religious tenets or practices.

Age Exemption
Students born prior to 1/1/57 are exempt from all immunization requirements.

Class Location
Students who are enrolled in cohort programs whose class sessions meet at a location other than the Aurora University campus are exempt from all immunization requirements.

(Aurora University College of Education located at Downer Place is considered an on-campus location)

Immunization Hold / Record Processing

Failure to provide the Wellness Center with health/immunization records required by the State of Illinois College/University Immunization Law by August 1st for Fall semester enrollment and December 1st for Spring semester enrollment will result in placement of an immunization hold on your student account.

Once the required health/immunization records have been received the immunization hold will be removed and registration from an immunization stand point will be allowed. Please allow 5-7 days for record processing.

Physical Exam Guidelines

In addition to providing immunization records, all students living in a residence hall and/or participating in intercollegiate athletics must have a current physical exam on file in the Wellness Center prior to occupancy in the residence hall and prior to the first day of athletic practice.

For residential students, a current physical is defined as a physical signed by a physician and/or equivalent, and dated within 1 year prior to residing at AU. Athletes please contact the athletic department for “current” requirements.

Failure to provide the Wellness Center with documentation of a current physical exam by the end of the 2nd week of school may result in being denied access to the residence halls.

“I do not have a record of my prior immunizations, what should I do?”

The following is a list of suggested places to begin your immunization record search:

1. High School: Check with your high school. A copy of your immunization records would have been required prior to entrance.
2. Prior University / College: If you had attended another university/college prior to Aurora University, contact the institution’s Health Services Department for a copy of your immunization records.
3. Physician’s Office: Your pediatrician / doctor may be able to provide you with a copy of your immunization records.

If after checking with all of the above you are still unable to obtain a copy of your immunizations records, review your remaining options below:

• Re-vaccination: The State of Illinois requires documentation of the month, day and year that the vaccine was administered along with a signature of the health care professional that administered the vaccine. Unfortunately, the Wellness Center cannot accept your word that you had received the immunizations in the past. Please visit the “Community Resources” section for a listing of community medical clinics that can provide the required vaccinations.
• Antibody titer: (blood test) Contact your physician to request an antibody titer (blood test) for measles, mumps and rubella. This test will confirm whether or not you are immune to measles, mumps, and/or rubella. A copy of the lab report confirming immunity must be submitted to the Wellness Center.

“Where do I send my completed health/immunization records?”

During the school year (August 1-June 1) completed health/immunization records may be submitted to the Wellness Center at the following contact information:

During the summer (June 1-August 1) completed health/immunization records may continue to be mailed to the above listed address. However if you choose to fax or drop off completed records during the summer please utilize the following contact information:

Requesting Health/Immunization Records from AU

Protection of personal health information is taken seriously at Aurora University. It is mandated by law that the Wellness Center cannot release health related information of adult students (>18 years old) unless requested to do so in writing by the student.

When requesting health records a “Permission for Release of Information Form” (Acrobat.pdf file) must be submitted to the Wellness Center before the request can be honored. Please allow 5-7 working days for processing of request. Aurora University maintains student health/immunization records for 7 years post student graduation. After 7 years records are shredded.

Where do I send completed release forms?
Click on the following link for Wellness Center contact information.

Recommended Immunizations

Flu Shot
Staying healthy on campus is important. The Wellness Center’s Flu Vaccine Program will be held on-campus in October. Please contact the Wellness Center for date and time of the flu vaccination clinic. It is encouraged that all students receive the influenza vaccine (flu shot), unless it is medically contraindicated. The flu can be severe enough to keep students from attending class and potentially missing tests/finals. The flu shot is a positive way to help minimize your chance of contracting the flu.

To learn more about influenza, please visit the following web sites:

• Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
• National Foundation for Infectious Diseases
• American Academy of Family Physicians

Meningococcal Vaccine (Meningitis)
Meningococcal meningitis is a rare, but potentially fatal, bacterial infection that strikes 1,400 to 3,000 Americans each year and is responsible for approximately 150-300 deaths. Adolescents and young adults account for roughly 30% of all cases of meningitis in the United States. In addition, approximately 100 to 125 cases of meningococcal disease occur on college campuses each year, and 5 to 15 students will die as a result.

Because of lifestyle factors, such as crowded living situations, active or passive smoking, irregular sleep patterns, and sharing personal items, college students living in residence halls are more likely to acquire meningococcal disease than the general college population.

Meningococcal infection is contagious, particularly in crowded conditions such as residence halls at college or universities. Symptoms may include fever, stiff neck, rash, nausea, and vomiting. The disease progresses very rapidly and can easily be misdiagnosed as the flu. Students should seek medical attention if any of these symptoms are present and unusually sudden or severe.

Fortunately, a vaccine is available that can greatly reduce the risk of contracting this serious bacterial infection. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved a new quadrivalent conjugate vaccine (Menactra) which protects against four strains of the bacteria that cause meningococcal disease (A, C, Y and W-135), which account for up to 80% of the cases among college students. It is important to know that while this disease is rare, it is also very serious, and that the majority of cases on college campuses are vaccine-preventable.

As of winter of 2005, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and the American College Health Association (ACHA) recommend immunization of all incoming college freshmen living in dormitories (residence halls) against meningococcal disease. ACHA and ACIP’s new recommendations further state that other college students under 25 years of age may choose to receive meningococcal vaccination to reduce their risk for the disease.

The Wellness Center will be hosting an on-campus Meningococcal vaccination clinic in October. Please contact the Wellness Center for date and time of the clinic.

To learn more about meningococcal disease, please visit the following web sites:

• Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
• National Meningitis Association
• Other Site

Hepatitis B Vaccine
Hepatitis B is a serious infectious disease caused by a virus that attacks the liver. The hepatitis B virus (HBV) can cause life-long infection that can lead to cirrhosis (scarring) of the liver, liver cancer, or liver failure. There is no cure for hepatitis B, but the infection can be prevented by vaccination.

Hepatitis B can be transmitted to others when blood or body fluids (saliva, semen, and vaginal secretions) that contain the hepatitis B virus enter a person’s body through broken skin, mucus membranes or through the bloodstream.

A vaccine is available to help protect against hepatitis B. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends vaccination of everyone age 18 and under, and anyone at high risk for hepatitis B. The American College Health Association (ACHA) recommends that all college students be vaccinated, and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) recommends that all student athletes be vaccinated.

To learn more about Hepatitis B, please visit the following Web sites:

• Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
• Hepatitis B Foundation