Meningitis Vaccination Requirements for Campus Housing
The university requires all students living on campus housing to be vaccinated against meningococcal meningitis. It is important that students understand the specifics of this disease, the factors that place this particular age group at an increased risk and disease prevention techniques.
- Meningococcal disease is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitides. It is easily spread by person-to-person contact wherever large groups of people gather together – such as college dormitories or residence halls.
- The bacteria are transmissible through respiratory and throat secretions during close or lengthy contact (such as coughing or kissing).
- Meningitis is a very serious illness caused by a meningococcal infection. It can be fatal. Permanent disabilities such as hearing loss and brain damage can also occur.
- Symptoms include sudden onset of fever, headache and stiff neck. Often, additional symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, increased sensitivity to light and confusion or altered mental status occur. Typically symptoms develop within 3-7 days after exposure.
- Early diagnosis and treatment are very important. Vaccination is the best prevention technique.
- In addition to vaccination, the following techniques can reduce the risk of infection: maintaining healthy eating and sleeping habits; washing your hands frequently; avoiding close contact with people who are sick; and understanding the signs and symptoms.
Go to cdc.gov for more information.
Upload proof of your meningitis vaccine.
- Navigate to go.uky.edu/selfreport.
- Login using your linkblue ID and password.
- Upload your proof of vaccination.
- Please ensure that the document you upload clearly shows your name, vaccination date and vaccination type. Documents without this information will not meet requirements to be accepted during the review process.
- Please do not send proof of vaccination to the housing office.
- The University of Kentucky requires the meningitis quadrivalent ACWY vaccine (Menactra, Menveo, MenQuadfi, Menomune) to live on campus. The most recent dose must be on or after the 16th birthday.
- For full meningitis protection we also strongly recommend the Meningitis B or MenB vaccine (Bexsero, Trumemba).
NOTE: The Health Corps self-report tool is the place you can upload COVID-19 vaccination information, COVID-19 test results and UK Housing required meningitis vaccinations. If you have issues using this tool, please contact Health Corps at healthcorps@uky.edu or 859-218-SAFE(7233).