August is National Immunization Awareness month. Are you up-you-date? This is a guideline of recommended immunizations for college students. Most of these immunizations are available in the UMKC Student Health and Wellness Center. Being appropriately immunized will protect you from illness.

Immunizations recommended by the American College Health Association.

Hepatitis B: Series of three injections given at 0, one month and six month intervals. Missing a dose does not require starting over. The cost is $30 per dose. This is required for some schools of study.

Meningitis: This is recommended for college students, especially those living in resident halls. The vaccine is one dose that is repeated every 3-5 years as needed. The cost is $68 per dose.

Measles, Mumps, and Rubella: If a primary series was not completed in childhood, the recommendation is for all adults born after 1956 to receive two doses of the vaccine given one month apart. The cost is $42 per dose. Proof of this vaccine is required for international students and those living in on-campus housing.

Tetanus, Diptheria (tdap): If a primary series has not been completed during childhood, the recommended dosing is 2 doses given 1-2 months apart and then a third dose 6-12 months later. After completion of the primary series, a booster is needed every 10 years. It is especially important to know your vaccine history if you have an injury that would require a current tetanus vaccine. The cost of the vaccine is $40 per dose.

Polio: If a primary series was not completed in childhood, the recommended dosing is 2 doses 1-2 months apart and then a 3rd dose 6-12 months later. This vaccine is not available in the UMKC Student Health and Wellness Center. Please contact us for information on where to receive the vaccine.

Varicella (Chicken Pox): All entering college students without a history of the disease or without previous vaccination or with a negative antibody titer should receive 2 doses of the vaccine 1-2 months apart. The cost of the vaccine is $75 per dose.

Hepatitis A: This vaccine is recommended only for those who are traveling out of the country to a region where Hepatitis A is a risk. The recommended dosing is 2 doses 6 months apart. The cost of the vaccine is $22 per dose.

Tuberculosis (TB) Testing: Many health care and professional programs require current TB testing to rule out TB disease or infection. The American College Health Association recommends that all international students that have arrived within the last 5 years from countries where TB is endemic be tested. The test is done by injecting Purified Protein Derivative (PPD) under the skin on the arm and then reading the results 48-72 hours later. The cost of the test is $8.

If you have any questions regarding immunizations or other health concerns, please contact Student Health and Wellness at (816) 235-6133 or e-mail us at studenthealth@umkc.edu.

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