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Vaccination Policy

Required Immunizations

Listed below are the immunizations required by McDaniel College for all full-time undergraduate students. Along with the Pre-Entrance Student Health Form, students must submit an official immunization record. You cannot attend McDaniel College until your current immunizations are documented on your health form.

    MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella)
    • 2 doses of combined MMR vaccines OR 2 doses of each individual vaccine (measles, mumps, and rubella)
      • First dose given after 1st birthday
      • At least 4 weeks between doses
    • If documentation of MMR vaccines is unavailable, positive blood tests showing immunity to measles, mumps, and rubella are required
    • Persons born before 1957 are considered immune due to natural infection
    Tetanus and Diphtheria
    • Tdap (Tetanus-Diptheria-Pertussis) or Td (Tetanus- Diptheria) booster within 10 years of enrollment. Tdap is strongly recommended over the Td booster. DTaP series in childhood is not sufficient.
    Meningococcal (Meningitis)
    Maryland law requires all students who reside in on-campus housing at Maryland colleges and universities to be vaccinated against meningococcal disease unless the individual signs a waiver. At McDaniel College, this is required of all undergraduate students, both commuter and residential. The requirement can be met in one of two ways:
    • Provide documentation of at least one dose of the 4-valent (ACYW) meningococcal conjugate after age 16
    • After reviewing the information regarding the risks associated with the disease and availability and effectiveness of the vaccine, you (or your parent, if you are under age 18) may sign a waiver indicating the choice not to be vaccinated.
    The following information, provided by the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, describes the meningococcal disease, risks associated with it, and the vaccine.
    What you need to know
    Effective 2001, Maryland law requires that an individual enrolled in an institution of higher education in Maryland who resides in on-campus student housing must be vaccinated against meningococcal disease. An individual may be exempt from this requirement if (1) the institution of higher education provides the individual or the individual's parent or guardian if the individual is a minor (under 18 years of age) detailed information on the risks associated with meningococcal disease and the availability and effectiveness of any vaccine, and (2) the individual or a minor individual's parent or guardian signs a waiver stating that the individual or the parent or guardian has received and reviewed the information provided and has chosen that the individual will not be vaccinated against meningococcal disease.
    What is meningococcal disease?
    Meningococcal disease is a rare but life threatening illness, caused by the bacterium, Neisseria meningitidis. It is a leading cause of bacterial meningitis (an infection of the brain and spinal cord coverings) in the United States. The most severe form of the disease is meningococcemia, infection of the bloodstream by this bacterium.
    Deaths from meningococcal disease have occurred among Maryland college students in recent years. Students living in dormitories or residence halls are at increased risk. The Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene encourages meningococcal vaccination of higher education students.
    About 2,600 people get meningococcal disease each year in the U.S. 10-15% of these people die, in spite of treatment with antibiotics. Of those who live, 10% lose their arms or legs, become deaf, have problems with their nervous systems, become mentally retarded, or suffer seizures or strokes.
    About the vaccine
    Meningococcal vaccine can be effective in preventing four types of meningococcal disease. The vaccine is not effective in preventing all types of the disease, but it does help to protect many people who might become sick if they don't get the vaccine. Drugs such as penicillin can be used to treat meningococcal infection. Still, about one out of every ten people who get the disease dies from it, and many others are affected for life.
    A vaccine, like any medicine, is capable of causing serious problems, such as severe allergic reaction. People should not get meningococcal vaccine if they have ever had a serious allergic reaction to a previous dose of meningococcal vaccine. Some people who get meningococcal vaccine have mild side effects, such as redness or pain where the shot was given (which is usually under the skin of the upper arm). A small percentage of people who receive the vaccine develop a fever. The vaccine may be given to pregnant women. Meningococcal vaccine is available in some school health centers, travel clinics, some county health departments, and the offices of some health providers.
    For additional information about meningococcal vaccine, please visit:

    Tuberculosis Risk Assessment and Testing

    • All students are required to complete the Tuberculosis Screening questions on the Pre-Entrance Student Health Form.
    • If the student answers “Yes” to any of the risk assessment questions, McDaniel College requires Tuberculosis symptom check and testing to be completed and documented by health care provider.
    • If a blood test is positive or PPD result is 10mm or greater, a chest x-ray (result in English) is required
    • All International Students on Visas are required to have a Tuberculosis blood test (QuantiFeron Gold or T-spot) performed in the U.S. within 6 months of entering McDaniel.

    Recommended Immunizations

    • COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2)
    • Varicella (Chicken Pox)
    • Hepatitis A
    • Hepatitis B
    • HPV
    • Polio
    • Serogroup B Meningococcal

    Medical or Religious Exemption Requests

    • Students may request an exemption from the vaccination requirement for medical or religious reasons as provided in Maryland and federal law:
    • Students who are not able to be vaccinated for a medical reason may seek a medical exemption from the Wellness Center. The process to request a medical exemption will require the student to provide supporting documentation from a health care provider. Students seeking a medical exemption may contact the Wellness Center for the required forms.
    • Students seeking a religious exemption may request such an exemption from the Wellness Center and will be required to provide sufficient information to support the request.

    Approval of exemption requests will be made on a case-by-case basis.

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    Westminster, MD, 21157
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