Recommended immunizations

The following includes information about immunizations we recommend. Almost all of those listed (except for Menveo) are available at Campus Health Services.

T-dap

T-dap is the vaccination for tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (otherwise known as “whooping cough”). Adolescents and adults should receive a tetanus booster every 10 years. T-dap should be given at least once in place of a single Td booster and there is no minimum interval between doses of Td and Tdap.

Meningococcal Vaccine

Two FDA approved 4-strain conjugate vaccines (targeting A, C, W, and Y strains) are available:

• Menveo® is approved for use in people 2 to 55 years of age.
• MenQuadfi® is approved for use in people 2 years of age and older.

*Campus Health Services currently offers the MenQuadfi vaccine.

Two Meningitis B vaccines are currently approved by the Food and Drug Administration:

• Bexsero® is approved for use in people 10-25 years of age as a 2-dose series.
• Trumenba® is approved for use in people 10-25 years of age as a 2-dose series. Persons at high risk may require 3 doses.

Many college students have already received a 4-strain vaccine as an adolescent; however, they may require a booster if their first dose was given before the age of 16. The newer Meningitis B vaccines complement the 4-strain vaccine and provide protection against serogroup B disease.

HPV: Human Papillomavirus

HPV vaccine (Gardasil-9 ®) is approved for females and males ages 9-45 years. The number of required doses (2 or 3) is dependent on your age at the time of your first dose. The vaccine provides protection from 9 strains of Human Papillomavirus, some of which are known to cause certain types of cancer.

Influenza (“flu”) vaccine

Influenza vaccine is recommended for all individuals over the age of 6 months. The vaccine is given annually between the months of September and March in the northern hemisphere.

COVID-19

The two most common vaccines in the United States are Comirnaty (Pfizer) and Moderna. Other vaccines are available internationally. Recommendations continue to change as we learn more about COVID-19 and vaccine efficacy.

Other Important Immunizations

Hepatitis “A”

Hepatitis A vaccine is administered as a 2-dose series given at least 6 months apart. It is recommended if you are at a higher risk of exposure, such those planning international travel. Hepatitis A virus (HAV) is spread by close personal contact and by eating food or drinking water containing HAV.

Hepatitis “B”

• Hepatitis B vaccine is administered as a 3-dose series normally beginning at birth, with the second dose given at 1-2 months of age and the third dose at 6-18 months of age. The schedule is the same for adults who have not been vaccinated (day 1, 1-2 months later, 6-18 months after the first injection).
• A 2-dose vaccine (Heplisav ®) is also available for adults (ages 18 and older) with each dose being administered 4 weeks apart.

TWINRIX ® vaccine is for those aged 19 and older and contains both Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B components. It is usually a 3-dose series.

Varicella

Also known as “chickenpox”, this vaccine is recommended if you have never had the chickenpox. It is a 2-dose series administered at least 28 days apart.

Polio

Most adults already received this vaccine during childhood. A booster is required for travel to certain countries. It is a 1-dose injection.

Shingles

The Shingles virus is caused by the same virus, Varicella Zoster, as chickenpox. Only someone who has had chickenpox can get Shingles. The FDA approved the use of the vaccine for adults ages 50 and older in 2011. The Shingrix ® vaccine is a 2-dose series.

Pneumococcal

Pneumococcal vaccine is usually given to adults 65 years and older. It is also given to children and adults with long-term/chronic health problems or immune deficiencies. It is usually a 1-dose injection, but under certain circumstances a second dose is recommended.

Japanese Encephalitis

The Ixiaro ®vaccine is administered as a 2-dose series(1 month apart) for those aged17 years and older who are traveling to Asia or other locations where JE occurs.

Typhoid

Typhoid vaccine can either be given as an injection of a “killed” virus or by a live “weakened” form given as pills. This is most commonly given to those traveling to locations where typhoid fever is common.

• The injectable vaccine is 1 dose, given at least two weeks before travel, with a booster every 2 years for people remaining at risk.
• The 4-dose pill vaccine is taken every other day for a week, at least 1 week prior to travel, with a recommended booster every 5 years for those still at risk.

Tuberculosis skin test (“PPD”or Mantoux Tuberculin Skin Test)

This is NOT a vaccine, but rather a test to determine whether a person is infected with the bacteria that causes tuberculosis (TB). There is currently no routine preventative regimen for TB in the U.S.

• Skin-testing for tuberculosis (TB) is done on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays (not Thursdays).
• A person having the PPD test done must return within 48-72 hours to have the test read.
• If the reading is missed, there is a 7 day wait period before the test can be administered again at the person’s own expense.
• TB blood testing is another method of TB infection testing. It is used for foreign-born people who may have received a “BCG” vaccine in their home country or those who might have a difficult time returning for a second appointment to look for a reaction to the skin test.