Maryland Students: Required Vaccinations For University Enrollment

what vaccinations do university of maryland students need

The University of Maryland, College Park, is the state's flagship university and one of the nation's preeminent public research universities. It is home to more than 40,700 students. The university strongly believes that the COVID-19 vaccine is the best way to protect yourself from getting the disease. All students, faculty, or staff coming to campus are required to be vaccinated and have their boosters when eligible. Aside from the COVID-19 vaccine, students are also recommended to get yearly doses like the flu shot, the MenACWY vaccine, and boosters for vaccines they got when they were younger.

Characteristics Values
Vaccination policy All on-campus students, faculty, and staff are required to be vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19.
Exemptions Medical or religious reasons
Consequences of non-compliance Unvaccinated students without an exemption will face consequences to their registration and enrollment status.
Vaccination resources University Health Center (UHC), local health departments, hospitals, pharmacies, mass vaccination sites
Other recommended vaccinations Flu shot, HPV vaccine, MenACWY vaccine, Tdap vaccine

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COVID-19 vaccine requirements

The University of Maryland strongly believes that the COVID-19 vaccine is the best way to protect oneself from the disease, in addition to following preventive measures. While COVID-19 vaccine requirements have been dropped for most Maryland universities, the University of Maryland's main campus in College Park is keeping its vaccination proof requirements.

All new students must upload proof of full vaccination, including boosters when eligible, to the University Health Center (UHC) portal before reporting to class or working in person. Students arriving from outside the United States can refer to the UHC for important vaccine information. Students who are fully vaccinated and do not have symptoms will not need to be tested. However, anyone not fully vaccinated will need to continue getting tested at least once per month and attest to the results.

All new faculty and staff must upload proof of full vaccination, including boosters when eligible, to the UHC portal before reporting to work in person. Affiliates coming to campus one or more days per week and interacting with students, faculty, or staff are also required to be up to date on their vaccines.

The University of Maryland School of Nursing has outlined three categories of clinical site COVID-19 vaccination requirements:

  • The clinical site accepts the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB)-granted COVID-19 vaccine exemption and may or may not require regular COVID-19 testing throughout the clinical rotation.
  • The clinical site requires that the student go through their exemption process, and if an exemption is granted, the student may be required to undergo regular COVID-19 testing throughout the clinical rotation.
  • The clinical site is not allowing any unvaccinated students, regardless of UMB exemption status, to engage in clinical learning.

COVID-19 Vaccine Exemptions

The University of Maryland will comply with all federal and state laws in granting appropriate exemptions for medical or religious reasons. Students, faculty, and staff with approved exemptions will be required to sign a risk memorandum until they become up to date with their vaccines.

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MenACWY vaccine

The MenACWY vaccine is recommended for all first-year college students aged 21 and younger who plan to live in residence halls. This vaccine is so important that, in 39 states, it is required as part of college admission. According to the CDC, college students have a higher risk of contracting bacterial meningitis than other young adults, which is why they recommend getting the MenACWY vaccine even if your school or state doesn't require it.

The CDC recommends getting the shot between the ages of 11 and 12. If you can't remember whether you've had it, ask your parent or guardian, or contact your childhood doctor for your medical records. If you did receive the MenACWY vaccine but it was before your 16th birthday, the US Department of Health and Human Services recommends getting a booster shot before heading to campus for maximum protection.

The MenACWY vaccine is also recommended for 11 and 12-year-olds, but if you didn't get it as a preteen, you should still get it as soon as possible.

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Flu vaccine

The University of Maryland strongly believes that the COVID-19 vaccine is the best way to protect yourself from getting the disease. The University requires COVID-19 vaccinations (including boosters when eligible) for all on-campus students, faculty, and staff.

In addition to the COVID-19 vaccine, the University of Maryland also recommends that students get the flu vaccine each year. The flu vaccine is important because the flu virus can spread quickly on college campuses, and the virus mutates from year to year. By getting the flu vaccine, students can help protect their own health and the health of those around them, including young children and older adults who may be more vulnerable to serious complications from the flu. The flu vaccine is usually available from September to January, and sometimes even later.

Other vaccines that may be recommended or required for students at the University of Maryland, especially those involved in healthcare fields, include the MenACWY vaccine and boosters for vaccines received at a younger age, such as the Tdap vaccine. The MenACWY vaccine is recommended for all first-year college students aged 21 and younger who plan to live in residence halls, and it is required for college admission in 39 states. The Tdap vaccine is recommended for 11- and 12-year-olds, but it can be given at any age if you didn't receive it during preteen years.

It is important for students to review the health and safety guidelines provided by the University of Maryland to understand the specific vaccine requirements and recommendations for their campus community.

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HPV vaccine

The University of Maryland strongly believes that the COVID-19 vaccine is the best way to protect yourself from getting the disease, along with following preventive measures. The University requires COVID-19 vaccinations (including boosters when eligible) for all on-campus students, faculty, and staff.

The University Health Center (UHC) is administering the Pfizer vaccine for the campus community. Appointments can be scheduled online or by calling the UHC. The University also provides a tool to find your state health department’s COVID-19 information online.

Although I could not find specific information on the HPV vaccine, the University of Maryland recommends that students get yearly doses like the flu shot, boosters for vaccines they received when they were younger, or first-time doses they might still need. The HPV vaccine is recommended for 11 and 12-year-olds, but if you didn't receive it as a preteen, you should get it as soon as possible.

The University of Maryland, College Park, is home to more than 40,700 students, 14,000 faculty and staff, and nearly 400,000 alumni. It is one of the nation's preeminent public research universities and a global leader in research, entrepreneurship, and innovation.

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Tdap vaccine

The Tdap vaccine is recommended for University of Maryland students, especially those involved in healthcare fields. The vaccine is designed to protect against three highly dangerous diseases: tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (whooping cough). According to the CDC, the Tdap vaccine has significantly reduced the number of cases of these diseases, with reported cases of tetanus and diphtheria dropping by about 99%, and cases of pertussis dropping by about 80%.

While the Tdap vaccine is typically given to preteens at ages 11 and 12, it is not too late to get vaccinated if you missed the recommended timeframe. The US Department of Health and Human Services and the CDC emphasize that individuals who didn't receive the Tdap vaccine as a preteen should get vaccinated as soon as possible. This recommendation extends to college students, as pertussis outbreaks have been reported on college campuses in recent years.

The Tdap vaccine is crucial in preventing these diseases, which can have severe and even life-threatening consequences. Tetanus, also known as lockjaw, can lead to painful muscle spasms and even death in severe cases. Diphtheria primarily affects the throat and airways, causing difficulty in breathing and potentially resulting in heart and nerve damage if left untreated. Pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough, is a highly contagious respiratory infection that can cause violent coughing fits and difficulty breathing.

The University of Maryland prioritizes the health and safety of its students, faculty, and staff. While the Tdap vaccine may not be mandatory for admission, it is strongly recommended that students get vaccinated to protect themselves and those around them. Students can easily access vaccinations by visiting the University Health Center or local health care providers to receive the recommended vaccines and ensure their protection against these preventable diseases.

In addition to the Tdap vaccine, students are encouraged to stay up to date with other recommended vaccinations, such as the yearly flu shot and the MenACWY vaccine, especially if they plan to live in residence halls. Staying vaccinated not only safeguards one's health but also contributes to the overall well-being of the campus community.

Frequently asked questions

Yes. All on-campus students at the University of Maryland are required to be up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations, including boosters when eligible.

Students who are not vaccinated without an exemption will face serious and immediate consequences to their registration and enrollment status.

The flu vaccine is not mandatory for students, but it is strongly recommended. The CDC recommends everyone get a flu vaccine each year, and the flu can spread quickly on a college campus.

The MenACWY vaccine is recommended for all first-year college students age 21 and younger who plan to live in residence halls. The CDC recommends getting the shot between the ages of 11 and 12, but it is also recommended for those who did not get it as a preteen.

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