Required Immunizations

University Student Health Services > Immunizations > Required Immunizations

In compliance with the Code of Virginia (Section 23-7.5), VCU requires all full-time students to provide documentation of their immunizations.  The VCU Certificate of Immunization form is available online or directly from the offices of University Student Health Services.  This form should be completed by a licensed healthcare professional and submitted via the Student Health Web Portal.

Students are strongly encouraged to complete immunization requirements prior to the start of classes.  This not only ensures a safe and healthy learning environment but will also prevent future registration holds.

Student Vaccine Requirements

REQUIRED VACCINES

Full-time students are required to have the following:

  • 3 Hepatitis Bs (or 3 doses of Twinrix or 2 doses of HEPLISAV-B) OR a positive titer OR a signed waiver
  • 2 MMRs (measles, mumps and rubella) after 1st birthday at least 28 days apart OR a positive titer
  • 1 Meningococcal ACWY vaccine after 16th birthday OR a signed waiver (this is NOT the Meningococcal Serogroup B vaccine)
  • 1 Tetanus (Td or Tdap) within the past 10 years
  • Documentation of the primary polio vaccine series is required for students ≤ 18 years old OR students from high risk countries, which include Afghanistan, Nigeria, and Pakistan.

All students, regardless of credit hours, must complete:

  • The Tuberculosis Screening questionnaire on page 4 of the VCU Certificate of Immunization or the electronic version available through the Web Portal.  Answers to these screening questions will determine if TB testing is needed.
OPTIONAL VACCINES
ADDITIONAL VACCINES FOR HEALTH SCIENCES STUDENTS

Students enrolled in the schools of Dentistry, Health Professions, Medicine, Nursing, or Pharmacy may be required by their clinical sites to have additional vaccines.  Students should verify requirements with the clinical site.

Commonly required vaccines or testing may include:

  • COVID-19 (annually)
  • Influenza (annually).  Documentation of flu vaccine must be submitted to Student Health by your school's deadline.  If your program starts in January, please submit updated flu vaccine information as soon as possible.  Click here for details about how to submit your flu vaccine documentation. 
  • 2 Varicella vaccines after 1st birthday at least 28 days apart OR a positive titer.
  • Hepatitis B titer (serological confirmation of immunity with a quantitative lab test)
  • Tuberculosis testing (Two-Step TST or one IGRA on admission & annually thereafter; chest x-ray required if testing is positive).