Rutgers University and the State of New Jersey require students with 12 credits or more to provide an official record of either:

• 3 doses of Hepatitis B vaccines or
• Proof of immunity (titers)

Rutgers University and the State of New Jersey require students residing at the Rutgers dormitory to provide an official record of:

• 1 dose of Meningococcal "ACYW-135" vaccine (Menactra®, Menveo®, or Menomune®)

NOTE: This vaccine is NOT the same as Meningococcal "B" vaccine (Bexsero® and Trumenba®)

Rutgers University and the State of New Jersey require students of the College of Nursing or any non-immigrant visa holder student born in a country with a high prevalence of TB to provide an official record of:

• TB skin testing. If the TB skin testing is positive, a chest x-ray is required.

Grades may be withheld because of non-compliance with university rules pertaining to immunization requirements. The Rutgers University Health Service in Newark can assist these students by obtaining the necessary blood tests to prove immunity, or by administering the necessary vaccine.

Secondly, students owing money to the university may have a hold on their records until their outstanding bill has been paid.

Schedule appointment for travel consultation 6 – 8 weeks prior to departure, to review recommended vaccines, prophylactic medications, receive advice on how to avoid diseases while travelling, and how to treat if necessary. The CDC travel website is extremely thorough, and provides a great deal of specific information on reducing risks of disease while travelling.

For more Travel immunizations information from the CDC.

The Rutgers Newark Health Center prescribes medication for prevention of Malaria, treatment of Traveler’s Diarrhea, and immunizes students as needed in advance of their travels. This may include vaccines against Typhoid fever, Hepatitis A and B , Meningococcal, Tdap, and MMR. We also counsel regarding protective measures while travelling.

Cost for certain travel vaccines may not be covered by the student insurance. Please call student insurance for benefits.

Measles, mumps and Rubella are air-borne viral infections, responsible for severe infections, disability and death in millions of un-immunized patients around the globe.

Further information on MMR vaccine from the CDC.

Center for Disease Control and Prevention, (CDC) recommends Universal vaccination of children in the United States against Hepatitis B. Hepatitis B is a serious viral infection which can injure or destroy the liver, and cause liver cancer. It can be transmitted sexually, by contaminated needles, tattoos, skin piercings, the birth process, and across the placenta. It is very prevalent in third world countries, where un-immunized student travelers can become infected. The vaccine is ~ 100% effective in protecting patients after the series of 3 vaccines given at intervals of 0, 1 and 6 months.

Further information on Hepatitis B vaccine from the CDC.

This vaccine is recommended for people who live or travel to areas of high incidence of Hepatitis A, especially underdeveloped countries, institutional settings, earthquake, flood or other natural disaster zones. Men who have sex with men are also advised to obtain the vaccine, because of high risk of oral-fecal transmission. The vaccine, given in 2 doses six months apart, is safe and effective.

Further information on Hepatitis A vaccine from the CDC.

This vaccine can protect you from both Hepatitis A and B virus infection and is given at an interval of 0, 1 and 6 months.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) and American College Health Association (ACHA) advocate that college students living in dormitories, especially freshmen, be educated regarding meningococcal meningitis and the benefits of vaccination. Bacterial Meningitis is a very serious and sometimes fatal disease (13% of cases). At increased risk are students, living in dormitories on college campuses, students who frequent bars, drink alcohol and smoke cigarettes, and are freshmen. The single dose vaccine is very safe and relatively free of side effects.

The meningococcal vaccines available are:

• Meningococcal conjugate and polysaccharide "ACYW-15" vaccines (Menactra®, Menveo®, Menomune®)
• Meningococcal Serogroup "B" vaccines (Bexsero® and Trumenba®)

For further information on Meningococcal ACYW-135 vaccine from the CDC.

For further information on Meningococcal Serogroup B vaccine from the CDC.

Tuberculosis is an infectious disease which causes an estimated 3 million deaths annually worldwide, and is becoming an increasing global problem due to development of resistant strains. The PPD or Mantoux skin test can give important information regarding prior exposure to tuberculosis, or current active infection. Some students who have had vaccination against tuberculosis (BCG) at a previous time may also have a positive skin test. At least one PPD screening is recommended, preferably upon entering Rutgers. Alternatively, if one believes their skin test is positive due to previous BCG vaccine, a blood test, Quantiferon Gold Test, may be substituted for the PPD requirement.

TB tests are generally not needed for people with a low risk of infection with TB bacteria. Certain people should be tested for TB bacteria because they are more likely to get TB disease, including:

• People with HIV infection or another medical problem that weakens the immune system.
• People from a country where TB disease is common. (most countries in Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, and Russia)
• People who use illegal drugs.

For further information on Tuberculosis from the CDC.

Universal vaccination is recommended for these bacterial infections. Primary vaccination is required in childhood in the US, and adults are recommended to have a routine booster vaccine every ten years, or a booster dose after five years in case of a dirty wound.

For further information on Td vaccine from the CDC.

This new vaccine is recommended by CDC as a one time booster in adults. It protects against whooping cough as well as tetanus and diphtheria. Whooping cough is becoming more prevalent in the US, especially in young adults. It is recommended also for people in contact with infants, especially parents and caretakers.

For more information about Tdap from the CDC.

For more information about pertussis from the CDC.

This live virus vaccine is recommended for all students who have never had varicella or chickenpox infection, since this infection in adults is potentially harmful, and the disease is highly contagious. Immunity to chickenpox can be measured by blood titers. The vaccine is highly effective, and can prevent future herpes zoster (shingles) as well.

Further information on chicken pox/varicella vaccine from the CDC.

The Newark Health center does not provide Varicella vaccine. It is available at the New Brunswick campus.

Hurtado Health Center
11 Bishop Pl., New Brunswick, NJ 08901
848-932-7402

This vaccine is recommended for all boys and girls beginning at age 11 years, and through age 26 for females and 21 for males, except men who have sex with men, for whom the cut-off age is 26, as in females. This vaccine is very effective in reducing incidence of HPV infection including genital warts, and reducing risk of throat/oral cancer in males and females, anal cancer in males, and cancer of cervix and uterus in women.

Further information on HPV Vaccine from the CDC.

Influenza causes epidemics each year in the United States and worldwide, and an estimated 36,000 – 40,000 people die each year from complications due to influenza. The vaccine is recommended for everyone, but especially for people with reduced immune protection due to medications such as steroids or anti-cancer drugs, the elderly, or infants. Chronic diseases which can worsen risk of flu are sickle cell disease, chronic heart or lung diseases, including asthma, and AIDS. Pregnant women are an important target group needing protection against the flu.

Vaccines this year will include the injectable trivalent form, which contains two Type A and one Type B antigens. The new Quadrivalent form is only given by nasal route, and it contains two type A and two Type B antigen strains.

Further information on the Influenza vaccine from the CDC.