Varicella immunization requirements for US colleges: 2014-2015 academic year
Jessica Leung1, Mona Marin1, Victor Leino2
1a National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , Atlanta , Georgia , USA.
Objective:
To obtain information on varicella prematriculation requirements in US colleges for undergraduate students during the 2014-2015 academic year.
Participants:
Health care professionals and member schools of the American College Health Association (ACHA).
Methods:
An electronic survey was sent to ACHA members regarding school characteristics and whether schools had policies in place requiring that students show proof of 2 doses of varicella vaccination for school attendance.
Results:
Only 27% (101/370) of schools had a varicella prematriculation requirement for undergraduate students. Only 68% of schools always enforced this requirement. Private schools, 4-year schools, northeastern schools, those with <5,000 students, and schools located in a state with a 2-dose varicella vaccine mandate were significantly more likely to have a varicella prematriculation requirement.
Conclusions:
A small proportion of US colleges have a varicella prematriculation requirement for varicella immunity. College vaccination requirements are an important tool for controlling varicella in these settings.
Related Concept Videos
01:51Vaccinations
01:21Vaccines
01:22Development of Immunocompetence
The initial cells that migrate from the fetal thymus settle within the skin and epithelial tissues lining the mouth, digestive tract, and in females, the uterus and vagina. These cells, including skin-based dendritic cells, serve as antigen-presenting cells, playing a key role in T cell activation.
Subsequent T...
01:28Diphtheria
01:23Vaccine Production
01:25Immunodeficiency Diseases
There are three main causes of immunodeficiency...