Immunizations

Immunizations

Student Medical Services offers the Meningitis - Menactra vaccine, Hepatitis A vaccine, Hepatitis B vaccine, Influenza vaccine and the Tetanus and Pertussis vaccine at a discounted rate to students.  

Recommended Immunizations

Influenza Vaccine

It's recommended that students have 1 dose annually for Influenza. 

Hepatitis A

Recommended for all college students. Hepatitis A is transmitted through the fecal-oral route, series of two vaccines.

Hepatitis B

Recommended for all students, required for several majors (nursing, communication disorders, athletic training). Series of 3 immunizations administered over a 6-month period. Hepatitis B is a disease caused by a virus that attacks the liver. You can become infected directly through blood or body fluids, or indirectly through contact with surfaces or objects that are contaminated with the virus,  series of three vaccines.

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) (Gardasil)

Gardasil is a preventive vaccine against HPV subtypes 6, 11, 16, and 18 which are linked to cervical cancer and genital warts. SMS does not carry this vaccine. 

Meningitis (Bacterial) - REQUIRED

Meningitis is a rare but potentially fatal bacterial infection that can affect either the brain or spinal cord or infect the blood.  Permanent brain damage, hearing loss, kidney failure or death can result from this infection.  Certain groups of people are most at risk for this infection. College freshmen who live in residence halls are one of the susceptible groups.

The bacteria are spread through direct contact and through air droplets. Symptoms of the disease are often mistaken for the flu - high fever, rash, neck stiffness, headache, nausea and vomiting.  There is a vaccine available which is 80% effective at preventing the 4 types of bacteria that cause 70% of the disease in the U.S. Immunity develops within 7-10 days of receiving the vaccine and is effective for 3-5 years. 

Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis (Tdap)

One dose within the last 10 years. Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis are serious, sometimes fatal, diseases.

Other Recommended Vaccines Not Available at SMS

Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR)

Most commonly children receive MMR (Measles, Mumps Rubella) as one immunization. If MMR was received must have had 2 doses, at least 30 days apart, after age 1.

Polio (IPV)

3-4 doses in early childhood.

Varicella (Chickenpox) 

2 doses, one month apart only for students with no history of chickenpox. (SMS can do a varicella lab test to check for immunity to varicella.)