College students and staff need certain immunizations. This page provides immunization information and resources for both college students and administrators.
For Students
For Administrators
For College Students
Be Up to Date on Your Vaccines
- Check with your school to see which vaccines you need before starting classes. Every school’s requirements are different.
- Make sure you and your health care provider keep your immunizations up to date by reviewing Vaccinations for Preteens and Teens, Immunize.org (PDF).
- Learn about Healthy Tips for the College Freshman, American Academy of Pediatrics.
- Understand the diseases and the vaccines that can prevent them.
- Read vaccine stories from Washingtonians who are personally affected by vaccine-preventable diseases.
Required or Recommended Vaccines for Students
- Immunizations and Vaccines
- Measles (MMR)
- COVID-19
- Tdap (Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis)
- Chickenpox
- Meningococcal (MenACWY)
- Meningococcal (MenB)
- Flu (Annually)
- Hepatitis A
- Hepatitis B
- Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
Immunization Records for Students
- MyIRMobile provides your immunization history in Washington. It also gives you a schedule showing any vaccines you need.
- Sign up for MyIRMobile at MyIRmobile.com to view and print your immunization information, including COVID-19 vaccination.
- If you have immunization records from another state or country, show them to your health care clinic to get them entered in the Washington state database. Then you can see them online in MyIRMobile.
- See additional ways to Access Your Family's Immunization Information.
For Administrators
Washington State's Meningococcal Education Mandate
As of July 1, 2004, Washington law requires certain colleges to inform students about meningococcal disease and the vaccine. Is your college following this law RCW 70.54.370?
About the Law
Public and private colleges in Washington that offer on-campus or group housing must provide information on meningococcal disease to each first-time student. Community and technical colleges must provide information only to students offered on-campus or group housing.
The college will work with the Washington State Department of Health on preparing their meningococcal information materials.
- Information given to first-time students about meningococcal disease must include:
- Symptoms, risks, elevated risk due to group living arrangements, and treatment.
- Current meningococcal vaccine recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, including where students can get the vaccination; however, the college is not required to provide the vaccination to students.
- For electronic enrollment or registration of first-time students, this information must be provided electronically and acknowledged by the student before they complete electronic enrollment or registration.
Meningococcal Information Materials
- Sample text (Word) that colleges can give to first-time students to meet the requirements of Washington State's Meningococcal Education Mandate. Customize this template with your college's information and logo.
Russian (Word) | Spanish (Word) | Vietnamese (Word) - Email or print the Meningococcal Flyer “Off to College?” for new students to learn about meningococcal disease and prevention. Off to College? (PDF) | Russian (PDF) | Spanish (PDF) | Ukrainian (PDF)
Meningococcal Resources for Your College
Information about meningococcal disease and prevention to raise awareness among students.
- Meningococcal B Vaccine Information Statement, CDC (PDF)
- Meningococcal Vaccination: What Everyone Should Know, CDC
- MenACWY Vaccine Mandates for Colleges and Universities, Immunize.org
Vaccine Resources for Your College
Want your college to be a champion for immunizations? Here are resources to help you promote vaccination on your campus.
- Vaccine Recommendations
- Immunizations and Vaccines
- Diseases and the Vaccines that Can Prevent Them
- Brochures, Flyers, Posters and Resources About Immunization
- Vaccine Stories: Meningococcal Disease, Flu, and HPV
Colleges Can Benefit from Using the Immunization Information System
The Washington State Immunization Information System (IIS) is a statewide web-based system that helps healthcare providers and schools ensure Washington residents of all ages are immunized. Your college can use the IIS if there's a healthcare provider on staff. Learn more about accessing the IIS and enrolling your institution.
Additional Resources
- IIS Training Materials Portal
- Recorded training webinars
- Childhood Vaccine Program - The Washington State Childhood Vaccine Program provides vaccines to participating providers for all children less than 19 years of age, at no cost to the family.
- Adult Vaccine Program - The Washington State Adult Vaccine Program provides vaccine to participating provider locations for adults 19 years of age and older who are uninsured.
- Provider Map - This map can be used to identify providers who received publicly supplied vaccines through the Childhood Vaccine Program and Adult Vaccine Program. The map is updated twice each year. Contact the provider in advance regarding availability of supply and for more information regarding the policies associated with the practice.