Immunization Requirements

Campus housing

The University of Kentucky requires that all students living in campus housing receive at least one dose of the quadrivalent (ACWY) or pentavalent (ABCWY) meningococcal vaccine on or after their sixteenth birthday. The only exception to this requirement is for students who have an approved declination. Instructions for the declination process may be found below.

There are currently 3 quadrivalent (ACWY) meningococcal vaccines approved for use in the United States:

• Menactra
• Menveo
• Medquafi

A single dose of any one of those three would complete the UK housing requirement as long as it was administered at age 16 or older.

There are also 2 pentavalent (ABCWY) meningococcal vaccines approved for use in the United States:

• Penbraya
• Penmenvy

A single dose of either of those would also satisfy the UK housing requirement as long as it was administered at age 16 or older.

Healthcare colleges

Students enrolled in one of the University of Kentucky healthcare colleges (College of Dentistry, College of Health Sciences, College of Medicine, College of Nursing, College of Pharmacy, College of Public Health) have vaccination requirements specific to their college. These compliance requirements have been established to protect patients and students during clinical encounters. These requirements reflect current medical guidelines and UK HealthCare policies.

Please contact your healthcare college for specific immunization requirements. Links to several of the healthcare colleges are below:

• College of Dentistry
• College of Health Science
• College of Medicine
• College of Nursing
• College of Pharmacy

The only exceptions to these requirements are for students who have an approved declination. Instructions for the declination process may be found below.

Immunizations offer safe and effective protection from vaccine–preventable diseases. Communicable diseases can cause significant harm to students, their families and their fellow UK Wildcats. The American College Health Association and the University of Kentucky strongly encourage all students to follow current medical immunization guidelines. Discussing vaccination guidelines with your personal medical provider is an important part of managing your health. The following is a list of immunizations recommended for all students:

COVID-19 vaccine

Speak with your medical provider to determine if the COVID-19 vaccine is best for you.

Hepatitis B vaccine

There is a three-dose series (Engerix-B, PreHevbrio, Recombivax HB or Twinrix) and a two-dose series (Heplisav B) available.

Vaccination schedule

• 2-dose series only applies when 2 doses of Heplisav-B* are used at least 4 weeks apart
• 3-dose series Engerix-B, PreHevbrio, Recombivax HB, or Twinrix at 0, 1, 6 months

Human Papilloma (HPV) vaccine

Vaccination schedule

Administer human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine to all persons through age 26.

The number of doses of HPV vaccine to be administered depends on age at initial HPV vaccination:

• Age 15 years or older at initial vaccination: 3-dose series at 0, 1–2 months, 6 months (minimum intervals: dose 1 to dose 2: 4 weeks; dose 2 to dose 3: 12 weeks; dose 1 to dose 3: 5 months. Repeat dose if administered too soon.)
• Age 9–14 years at HPV vaccine series initiation and received 1 dose or 2 doses less than 5 months apart: Administer 1 additional dose
• Age 9–14 years at HPV vaccine series initiation and received 2 doses at least 5 months apart: Series complete; no additional dose needed

Influenza (seasonal flu) vaccine

Vaccination schedule

Annually. We recommend early in the Fall Semester.

Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) vaccine

Vaccination schedule

Two doses of MMR, at least 28 days apart, after 12 months of age.

Meningococcal serogroups (ACWY) or (ABCWY) vaccine

Vaccination schedule

Three quadrivalent meningococcal vaccines are available in the United States:

• Menactra: MenACWY-D (meningococcal groups A, C, W, and Y polysaccharide diphtheria toxoid conjugate vaccine)
• Menveo: MenACWY-CRM (meningococcal groups A, C, W, and Y oligosaccharide diphtheria CRM197 conjugate vaccine)
• MenQuadfi: MenACWY-TT (meningococcal groups A, C, W, and Y polysaccharide tetanus toxoid conjugate vaccine) 

 
Routine MenACWY vaccination schedule

• Initial dose: 11–12 yrs. of age
• Booster dose: 16 yrs. of age
• If initial dose given age 13–15 years: booster dose at 16–18 years of age
• If initial dose given age ≥16 years, no booster dose required; or,

Two pentavalent meningococcal vaccines are available in the United States:

• Penbraya: MenABCWY
• Penmenvy: MenABCWY

These vaccines are usually administered as a two-shot series at least six months apart. They provide protection against the same meningococcal serogroups as the quadrivalent (ACWY) vaccines with the additional protection against meningococcal group B.

Speak with your medical provider about which meningococcal vaccine is best for you.

Meningococcal serogroup B vaccine

This vaccine provides additional protection against meningococcus type B for individuals who received one of the quadrivalent (ACWY) vaccines.

Two recombinant serogroup B meningococcal (MenB) vaccines are available in the United States:

• Bexsero: 2 dose series
• Trumenba: 2 or 3 dose series

Vaccination schedule

• Bexsero: 2 injections at least one month apart 
• Trumenba: 3 injections at 0, 1 to 2, and 6 months (for those at increased risk) or 2 injections at 0 and 6 months (for those at no increased risk) 

Speak with your medical provider about which meningococcal vaccine is best for you.

Polio vaccine

Vaccination schedule

4-dose series at ages 2, 4, 6-18 months, and 4-6 years of age.

Tetanus, Diphtheria, Acellular Pertussis (TDAP) vaccine

Vaccination schedule

Primary series in childhood

4 doses: DT, DTaP, DTP, or Td

For adolescents 11–18 and adults 19–64

Single dose of Tdap. Tdap can be administered regardless of interval since the last tetanus or diphtheria toxoid-containing vaccine.

Routine booster dose intervals

Adults should receive tetanus boosters at 10-year intervals, beginning 10 years after receiving Tdap. Subsequently, either Tdap or Td may be used for booster doses.

Varicella (Chickenpox) Vaccine

Vaccination schedule

Two doses of varicella-containing vaccine, at least 12 weeks apart, if vaccinated between 1 and 12 years of age, and at least 4 weeks apart if vaccinated at age 13 years or older.

If you have a reason you believe you cannot receive one or more of the required vaccines, please complete the vaccine declination form available in My Chart.  

Once you have logged into your My Chart account:

• Select the "Menu" tab in upper left corner
• Under "My Record" tab, select "Questionnaires"
• Select "UHS Immunization Declination Request Form"

Please include as much information as possible regarding your declination of the vaccine requirement. This form will be reviewed and you will be contacted regarding the status of your immunization requirement.

Deadlines for completion of compliance are set by Campus Housing and the individual healthcare colleges.