Immunization Laws and Policies Among U.S. Institutes of Higher Education

Abstract

Recent outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases (e.g., mumps and meningitis) among young adults at higher education institutions (e.g., university, college, and junior college campuses) have proliferated nationally. Collectively, they illustrate a pressing public health concern regarding low vaccination rates among higher education populations contributing to outbreaks of communicable diseases. A primary cause of these outbreaks are lax requirements for student vaccinations among higher education institutions as a requirement for matriculation. A series of inconsistences and failures concerning vaccination law or policy requirements among select higher education institutions lends to profound public health and ethical repercussions for students and community members. Against the backdrop of rising rates or outbreaks of vaccine-preventable conditions among institutional populations, addressing these findings is vital to alleviate future outbreaks on campuses and surrounding locales.

Keywords: vaccines, vaccination, school, college, university, higher education, laws, requirements, infectious disease, policy