Vaccine-preventable diseases remain present on American college campuses. In an effort to provide the safest possible environment for Bellarmine University students, faculty and staff, the Bellarmine University Health Services Office requires the following immunization requirements for all students. These requirements are based on recommendations from the American College Health Association and the Centers for Disease Control.
Please note that some Bellarmine University programs, such as Nursing and Physical Therapy, have their own requirements.
Required Immunizations for Students
- Tetanus/Diphtheria/Pertussis (TDaP), last booster must be within the last 10 years
- Measles/Mumps/Rubella (MMR), two (2) doses required
- Meningococcal, Residential Students Under 22 Only (MCV4 series of 2, 2nd dose at or after age 16)
Recommended Immunizations
- Hepatitis B (series of 3)
- Human Papilloma Virus (HPV; series of 3)
- Polio (series of 2)
- Varicella (series of 2)
- COVID-19 (series of 1 or 2) plus at least one booster vaccine is recommended when eligible.
- Annual Influenza (reach out to healthservices@bellarmine.edu if interested in Influenza Vaccine)
Submitting Your Immunizations
- Students, please upload your immunization record here.
- If your immunization record is not in English, please provide translation.
You may easily submit a state vaccination record, but please be sure that required immunizations listed above are included before submission.
What to Do if You Cannot Find Your Records
Learn how to locate your immunization records (also called vaccination records) on the CDC Vaccination Records page.
Ask a parent or other caregiver if they have records of your childhood immunizations. Next, contact your healthcare provider or pediatrician’s office. If they cannot be located there, we recommend you google your state’s immunization registry; most states have one. Your high school may also have these records, particularly if you participated in sports.
If you are still unable to locate them, you have two options:
- Get a Blood Test (or Titer) to Show Proof of Immunity: If you can’t locate your immunization records, you can see your own healthcare provider get a blood test to show you are immune. If the blood test is positive, that means you either had the disease in the past or that you have been immunized for it. A positive blood test functions the same as a record showing the vaccine. Many urgent care clinics also offer titer blood tests. Check with your insurance to see how much of this they will cover.
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Get Vaccinated: For some, it is less expensive or more convenient to receive the vaccinations again. Some health departments offer them inexpensively, or less expensively than having titers drawn. It is not harmful to be vaccinated again and it will boost your immunity. Vaccinations are available through your healthcare provider and many urgent care clinics and pharmacies.
We will allow you the time you need to get this completed. As long as you provide timely updates and demonstrate effort to locate your records, you will not be marked as out of compliance. While this process can be time-consuming, keep in mind that these records will likely be required at some point in the future as well: for study in another program or university, for study abroad or travel, and for some jobs.
Exemption Policy
- Students, if you want to request an exemption from any required immunizations, please download our Exemption Request Form and submit the completed form here.
- Faculty and staff members should contact their HR business partner to start the exemption process.
Still have questions? We’re here to help! Call Health Services at: 502.272.8313 or email healthservices@bellarmine.edu
For further reference on immunizations and vaccines, please visit: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/