Student Complaince

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Student Compliance

Minnesota College Immunization Law
In 1989, the State of Minnesota passed a law that required students born after 1956 and enrolled in a public or private post-secondary school in Minnesota to be immunized against tetanus, diphtheria, measles, mumps and rubella, allowing for certain specified exemptions.

Exemptions include:

• Having an active immunity to a disease based on a history of physician diagnosed disease
• Having a medical condition that precludes a certain vaccine
• Having laboratory evidence that has confirmed the presence of adequate immunity

In order to qualify for an exemption, you must have your form signed by a health care provider.

Students born before January 1, 1957 are not required to provide vaccination dates. However, they are required to submit the Student Immunization Form in which they are to note they qualify for the age exemption. Students who graduated from a Minnesota high school in or after 1997 are also eligible for an exemption. Qualifying students need to complete part 1 of the Student Immunization Record and return the form. All other students will be required to provide the necessary information.

Required Immunizations:
Students who do not qualify for an age exemption, medical exemption or high school exemption will be required to provide the following information:

• Date of last Tetanus/Diphtheria (TD) or Tetanus/Diphtheria/Pertussis (TDAP) booster (must be within the last ten years prior to entrance)
• Date of one MMR vaccine (two are recommended, but only one is required)
• Students will be required to provide a month and year for each vaccination. Failure to provide this information will result in the form being returned to you.

St. Catherine University recommends the following immunizations, however, they are not required.

• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B
• Meningitis
• Varicella

Finding Records
If you are unsure how to locate your records, try contacting your physician's office, other colleges you have attended, your high school or military records. If you are unable to obtain a copy of your records, you will most likely need to be re-vaccinated. Be sure to keep a record this time! If you have the date of your last TD booster but not your MMR vaccine, there is a blood test that can be done to show proof of immunity to these communicable diseases. The IgG MMR titer can be substituted in place of an MMR vaccine. If any of the three required components comes back that you are non-immune, you will need a MMR booster.

Keeping Records
Once you submit your immunization records to St. Catherine University, they become part of your permanent file and cannot be returned to you. The Student Compliance Office keeps your immunization record on file for one year after your last date of attendance (graduation, leave of absence or withdrawal). It is your responsibility to make a photocopy of your record prior to submitting it. You may need this record again for readmission to the University, employment and/or further education.