New Immunization Requirements
URGENT NOTICE REGARDING MUMPS VACCINATIONS!
Resources for MMR vaccinations
Over the 2007 Holiday Break, due to the recent statewide mumps outbreak, the Maine CDC issued an emergency rule increasing to two (2) the number of vaccinations required of students to demonstrate a more complete immunity against Measles, Mumps, and Rubella.
The Maine State Legislature now requires all degree and all full-time non-degree college students born after December 31, 1956 to provide proof of immunization or immunity to the following diseases:
- Measles (Rubeola): two doses of measles vaccine administered after the student's first birthday. Some measles vaccine given prior to 1968 has not been approved. If your physician is unable to identify the strain, reimmunization is necessary.
- Rubella (German Measles): two doses of rubella vaccine administered after the student's first birthday and after June 1969.
- Mumps: two doses of mumps vaccine administered after the student's first birthday.
- Diphtheria/Tetanus: one dose of DT, TD or DTP administered within 10 years prior to Student's enrollment.
To demonstrate adequate immunization against each disease, you must present evidence of two (2) doses of the vaccination from the physician, nurse, public health official, or school provider who administered the immunization. The proof must specify the immunizing agent and the months and years they were administered. School health records are usually acceptable to meet this requirement.
To demonstrate immunity against measles, mumps and/or rubella, you must present laboratory results of your titer tests. A letter from your doctor is not acceptable. Information on obtaining immunization records is available here.
Students may be exempted from the immunization requirement for one of the following reasons:
- a physician's statement declaring that vaccination is medically inadvisable, OR
- opposition to immunization based on SINCERELY held religious, moral, philosophical and/or personal beliefs, DETAILED in a written statement and submitted to the Office of the Registrar.
Any student exempted from compliance for either of the above reasons, may be excluded from school during one or more incubation periods if a case(s) of disease is/are present.
The law is very specific. You must comply with the immunization requirements or you will NOT be allowed to continue in classes this Spring 2008 semester. THE DEADLINE FOR COMPLIANCE IS MARCH 3, 2008. Send a copy of your immunization records, along with the medical professional's business address and phone number to:
Office of the RegistrarUniversity of Maine at Augusta
46 University Drive / Augusta, Maine 04330-9410
If you have any questions regarding immunization, please call 1-877-862-1234 (in Maine) or (207) 621-3079.