SHS - Immunizations

Information Line (979) 458-8316, Appointment Line (979) 458-8250

Immunizations and Tuberculosis Screening

Texas A&M University no longer requires the submission of immunization records as a requirement for class registration. However, Student Health Services strongly recommends that every student, and their family members, review our updated list of immunizations most appropriate for the university student. This list of recommended vaccines was compiled by the American College Health Association (ACHA) with assistance from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Health science majors and some international students will be an exception to this recommendation. International students should review the recommended immunizations below as well as the TB Screening information at the bottom on the page.

Health science majors are required by state law to be compliant with certain immunization requirements prior to the beginning of their clinical rotations. Assuring that health science students comply with state laws regarding required immunizations is the responsibility of the health science department or college.

All of the recommended vaccines are available to students at Student Health Services. If you have any questions regarding recommended vaccines, please contact Student Health Services at 979-458-8345.

You are welcome to continue to submit immunization records voluntarily in order to assure the availability of a more complete medical record while you are a student at Texas A&M University.

VACCINE	AGE INDICATED	MAJOR INDICATIONS	MAJOR PRECAUTIONS
Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR)	Two doses of MMR at least 28 days apart after 12 months of age.	All college students born after 1956 without lab evidence of disease or physician diagnosed disease.	Pregnancy; history of hypersensitivity or anaphylaxis to any of the components in the vaccine. Guidelines exist for vaccination of persons with altered immunocompentence
Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis - DT: pediatric (< age 7 years) preparation of diphtheria and tetanus toxoids. - DTaP: pediatric preparation of diphtheria, tetanus toxoid, and acellular pertussis. - DTP (also known as DTwP): pediatric preparation of diphtheria, tetanus toxoid, and whole cell pertussis (no longer available in the U.S.). - Td: 7 years and older preparation of tetanus toxoid and diphtheria toxoid. - Tdap: adolescent and older preparation of tetanus toxoid, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis.	Primary series with DT, DTaP DTP or Td; booster at age 11-64 years with Tdap. For adolescents age 11-18, at least 5 years should have elapsed since the last dose of tetanus and diphtheria toxoid-containing vaccine, prior to receiving Tdap. For adults 19-64 years, Tdap to replace a single dose of Td for booster immunization against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis if they received their last dose of Td > 10 years earlier. Tetanus prophylaxis in wound management: For both age groups above, patients who require a tetanus toxoid containing vaccine as part of wound management should receive Tdap instead of Td if they have not previously received Tdap. If Tdap is not available or was administered previously, Td should be administered. Pertussis prophylaxis: For both age groups above, intervals shorter than 10 years since the last Td may be used to protect against pertussis. Particularly in settings with increased risk from pertussis or its complications or for those who have or who anticipate having close contact with an infant < 12 months of age (parents, childcare providers, healthcare providers), a single dose of Tdap should be administered. The benefits of using a single dose of Tdap at a shorter interval to protect against pertussis generally outweighs the risk of local and systemic reactions after vaccination. The safety of intervals as short as 2 years between Td and Tdap are supported by studies from Canada. Routine booster dose intervals: Adults should receive decennial Td boosters, beginning 10 years after receiving Tdap, until guidance on subsequent Tdap booster doses is available.	Tdap for the decennial booster dose for all college students. Any student in the setting of: pertussis outbreaks, close contact with infants less than 12 months of age, or wound management, as appropriate.	History of hypersensitivity to any of the components in the vaccine. There is a theoretical risk of increased rates of local or systemic reactions when two diphtheria toxoid containing vaccines are administered within a short interval (i.e., on different days). Efforts should be made to administer Tdap and tetravalent meningococcal conjugate (MCV4) vaccines simultaneously if both are indicated. If simultaneous vaccination is not feasible, Tdap and MCV4 vaccines (which contain diphtheria toxoid) can be administered in any sequence.
Polio Vaccine -Inactive (IPV) -Oral poliovirus (OPV)	Primary series in childhood with IPV alone, OPV alone, or IPV/OPV sequentially; booster only if needed for travel after age 18 years	IPV for certain international travelers.	History of hypersensitivity to any of the components of the vaccine.
Varicella (Chickenpox)	Childhood, adolescence, young adulthood (two doses at least one month apart, if 13 years of age or older).	All entering college students without history of the disease or without age appropriate immunization or with a negative antibody titer (two doses at least one month apart, if over age 13 years).	Pregnancy, history of hypersensitivity or anaphylaxis to any of the components in the vaccine. Guidelines exist for vaccination of persons with altered immunocompentence.
Hepatitis B Vaccine	Series of 3 doses (given at 0, 1-2 mo., and 6-12 mo.) prior to college entry. A series of 2 adult doses may be given to adolescents 11-15 years of age (given at 0 and 4-6mo). Combined hepatitis A and B vaccines may be given as a series of 3 doses (given at 0, 1-2 mo., and 6-12 mo.).	All college students	History of hypersensitivity to any of the components in the vaccine.
Hepatitis A Vaccine	Series of 2 doses (given at 0, 6-12 mo.) prior to college entry. Combined hepatitis A and B vaccines may be given as a series of 3 doses (given at 0, 1-2 mo., and 6-12 mo.). Over 2 years, repeat every 3-5 yrs.	Recommended for routine use in adolescents through the age of 18 in some states and regions and for certain high risk groups (i.e., persons traveling to countries where hepatitis A is moderately or highly endemic, men who have sex with men, users of injectable and noninjectable drugs, persons who have clotting-factor disorders, persons working with nonhuman primates, and persons with chronic liver disease).	History of hypersensitivity to any of the components in the vaccine.
Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine-23 valent	Childhood, adolescence, adulthood	Young adults with diabetes, heart disease, chronic pulmonary or liver disease. Revaccinate every 5 years for immunodeficiency states, renal failure, recipients of clotting factor concentrates, asplenia, terminal complement component deficiencies, and HIV infection.	History of hypersensitivity to any of the components in the vaccine.
Meningococcal quadrivalent Conjugate (Preferred) Polysaccharide (Acceptable alternative if conjugate not available)	11-55 years (data for revaccination pending) Over 2 years of age, repeat every 3-5 years	Certain high-risk groups including persons with terminal complement deficiencies or those with asplenia. Research or laboratory personnel who may be exposed to aerosolized meningococci. Travelers to hyperendemic or endemic areas of the world. College freshmen living in dormitories are at modestly increased risk for disease and may wish to consider vaccination.	History of hypersensitivity to any of the components in the vaccine. Avoid vaccinating persons who are known to have experienced Guillain-Barre (GBS) syndrome There is a theoretical risk of increased rates of local or systemic reactions when two diphtheria toxoid-containing vaccines are administered within a short interval (i.e., on different days). Efforts should be made to administer Tdap and tetravalent meningococcal conjugate (MCV4) vaccines simultaneously if both are indicated.
Influenza Vaccine	Annually	All college students particularly those at high risk of complications from the flu such as diabetics or asthmatics or patients with certain immunodeficiencies, and any student who wants to minimize disruption of routine activities during epidemics)	History of hypersensitivity to any of the components in the vaccine.

Tuberculosis Screening

Tuberculosis (TB) skin testing, utilizing the Mantoux test, is required for all incoming, high-risk students, domestic or international, who have arrived from countries where TB is endemic. As it is easier to identify countries of low, rather than high TB prevalence, please review the following list of exceptions. Students should undergo TB screening if they have arrived from any country EXCEPT those on the following list:

EXCEPTION LIST (countries where TB is not endemic):

American Region:

Canada Jamaica Saint Lucia Saint Kitts and Nevis

USA Virgin Islands

European Region:

Belgium Greece Luxembourg San Marino

Denmark Iceland Malta Sweden

Finland Ireland Monaco Switzerland

France Italy Netherlands United Kingdom

Germany Liechtenstein Norway

Western Pacific Region:

American Samoa Australia New Zealand

In addition, other categories of individuals who may be at increased risk for TB infection or disease, and should consider TB screening include:

Persons who have been close contacts of a person with infectious TB
Persons with signs or symptoms of active TB
Persons with HIV infection
Persons who inject drugs
Persons who have resided in, have been employed by, or volunteered in the following high-risk congregate settings: prisons and jails, nursing homes and other long-term facilities for the elderly, hospitals and other health care facilities, residential facilities for patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), and homeless shelters
Persons with the following clinical conditions that place them at high risk: silicosis, diabetes mellitus, chronic renal failure, some hematologic disorders (e.g. leukemias and lymphomas), other specific malignancies (e.g. carcinoma of the head or neck and lung), low body weight (10% or more below the ideal), gastrectomy and jejunoileal bypass, prolonged corticosteroid therapy (e.g. prednisone 15 mg/d for 1 month), other immunosuppressive therapy, pulmonary fibrotic lesions seen on chest radiographs (presumed to be from prior, untreated TB)

Please note that all countries in the African Region, Eastern Mediterranean Region, and Southeast Asia Region as well as Russia are considered high risk.

Detailed information about screening and treatment for tuberculosis can be found at the following website: http://www.cdc.gov/nchstp/tb/pubs/corecurr/