Immunization Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)

Fall semester deadline – August 1

Spring semester deadline – December 15

After the deadline the University Registrar may block the continuation of your registration for the semester until forms have been submitted and immunization and screening requirements have been met. If you are unable to complete specific requirements due to special circumstances, we may be able to assist you. You should still complete all electronic forms (in the “My Forms” section) to the best of your ability and submit any documentation that you do have for immunizations and testing that you have received to date. Once you have completed your electronic forms and uploaded a copy of your available records through the “Document Upload” section, we will contact you regarding missing requirements and work with you to facilitate their completion.

We prefer that your healthcare provider complete and sign the Georgetown form. This ensures that requirements are met and that any vaccinations and/or testing that you may need can be completed.

If your immunization records are up to date we will accept an official immunization record (such as government immunization certificates or copies from a medical record).  Please note: this may delay the review of your information, which could affect your registration.

It is still your responsibility to ensure that the actual immunization and screening requirements are met, regardless of what form or records you submit.

Yes. If the electronic immunization forms are not complete along with the uploaded documentation, you will not be considered compliant, and your registration may be delayed.

Yes. All students regardless of age are screened for Tuberculosis risk by completing the Tuberculosis Screening Questionnaire within the Immunization Portal.

Depending on the responses to those questions, some students will also need to complete a Tuberculosis test.

The screening questions are consistent with the guidelines from the Center for Disease Control and the American College Health Association.

Regardless of age you will need to complete the TB (tuberculosis) questionnaire found in your “My Forms” section. If you answer yes to one or more questions you will need to complete TB testing and the TB testing form during an appointment with a health care provider within 6 months of matriculation. If you turn 26 prior to matriculation (for Fall semester this date is September 1st, for Spring Semester start the matriculation date is January 1st) only the TB questionnaire with possible need for TB testing is required.

All required vaccine series can be completed within a 1-6 month time span (depending on which type of vaccine is administered).

If you are in-process of completing one or more vaccine series prior to the start of school, you will be marked temporarily compliant with proof of documentation

Temporary compliance length will vary dependent upon the vaccine(s) in process

Example: MMR #2 cannot be administered earlier than 28 days after MMR #1 therefore you will be temporarily compliant until 28 days after the date of the first dose.

Once temporary compliance expires you will be considered non-compliant and may be unable to register in subsequent semesters.

You will still need to complete all the documentation of the immunizations that have or have not received to date. You can then have your health care provider write a letter explaining the reason for the medical exemption and the associated requirement. The documentation and letter from your health care provider should be uploaded into the Immunization Database as directed within the electronic forms in the portal. Please note, immune system suppression increases your risk for reactivation of latent tuberculosis infections. Immune system compromising conditions will therefore not exempt you from needing TB testing if otherwise required.

You may need to resubmit your immunization records. We may not have access to records submitted more than four years ago.

If you are switching programs within a degree or are matriculating in a new degree program send a secure message through the immunization portal with the following:

– prior program and semester of entry

– the new program and semester of entry

For example, “I was an undergraduate and matriculated in Fall 2018. I will be entering the School of Foreign Service as a Masters candidate in Spring 2023”

Please note: you must still meet all requirements for your age and course of study. 

Yes!  If you are unable to receive all required vaccinations prior to your arrival in DC, you can call the Student Health Center. Depending on your needs, we may schedule you for an appointment to receive a vaccination once you arrive in DC and/or schedule you for an appointment to establish care with us (this may be done remotely, depending on your location). You can call the Student Health Center to schedule this at (202) 687–2200. We will bill your insurance for these services. If you have student health insurance, you can find more information regarding student health insurance here.

The immunization portal works best with the following web browsers:

– Google Chrome

– Mozilla Firefox

– Apple Safari

– Schedule an appointment with a healthcare provider to review your result.

– Complete a chest X-ray as ordered by your provider.

– Have your doctor complete and sign the TB testing form including the TB symptom review.

– Upload the completed form to your immunization portal and complete the corresponding electronic form in the immunization portal.

Have your doctor complete and sign the TB testing form including the TB symptom review and details of your past testing (including a chest X-ray).

Upload the completed form to your immunization portal and complete the corresponding electronic form in the immunization portal.

Have your doctor complete and sign the Immunization History Form. Upload the completed form to your immunization portal and complete the corresponding electronic form in the immunization portal.

If you are unable to receive a tetanus vaccination prior to arrival in the United States, please call the Student Health Center upon your arrival in Washington, DC. We will schedule you for an appointment to establish care with us and receive a vaccination. We will bill your insurance for these services. You can find more information regarding health insurance here.

Please input your immunization records using the electronic form and upload your immunization records for review.  Our office will contact you if further immunizations are required.

Please submit a copy of your immunization records for review.  Our office will contact you through the portal if you have further items needed.

You will be able show compliance with immunization and health requirements with a combination of blood tests for antibodies and receiving some immunizations. In order to do this, you should complete one of the following:

Schedule an appointment with a provider at home (print and bring the immunization form for your provider to review during your appointment). They can order any missing required testing and immunizations and complete your forms.

OR

If you are unable to complete an appointment prior to your arrival in DC, you can call the Student Health Center. We will schedule you for an appointment to establish care with us (this may be done remotely, depending on your location) and receive a vaccination (once you arrive in DC). We will bill your insurance for these services. If you have student health insurance, you can find more information regarding student health insurance here.

If your most recent tetanus dose has not been given in the last 10 years you will need a booster.

Most Hepatitis B vaccine series are 3 shots. The two shot series (Heplisav-B) was approved in the US by Dynavax in Nov 2017.  If you had Hepatitis B vaccinations before this time frame it is unlikely that that you received Heplisav-B and should have received 3 shots.

You should therefore receive a third Hepatitis B vaccine to be compliant with University requirements.

If your first MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella) and/or Varicella vaccine was administered before your first birthday, it does not count, making you noncompliant. You need to complete one of the following:

– MMR and/or Varicella shot

OR

– MMR and Varicella blood test to prove your immunity to the diseases

– If you are living in a dorm and have never received this vaccine OR if you last received this vaccine before your 16th Birthday you must complete another dose.

        OR

– Sign the meningitis waiver.

Once you have signed in to the immunization portal, you will submit a file (JPEG, TIFF, PNG, PDF, BMP OR GIF) with documentation that you received your influenza vaccine via the “document upload” tab at the top of the home screen. Choose “Annual Influenza Vaccine” as the document type, attach the file and click “save”. You will get a pop up that the submission was successful. Your compliance will update after we have reviewed your submission. Flu shots must be administered between September 1st and December 31st to be compliant.

Per the AAMC form, a quantitative Hepatitis B Surface Antibody titer of > 10 IU/mL is required.  A qualitative serology result (such as “positive”, “immune” or “reactive”) will not be accepted.

No.  Please see what to do for low hepatitis B serology (titer) in the next question.

If you have documentation of a prior Hepatitis B series and your Hepatitis B serology is low, you will need another Hepatitis B vaccination followed by a repeat blood test for Hepatitis B Surface Antibody serology (4-8 weeks following completion of the series).  If you do not have documentation of a prior series, you will need to complete a full series (2 or 3 dose series). If you are unable to complete these steps prior to matriculation you will receive temporary compliance and can complete the series and/or blood testing at the Student Health Center after matriculation. 

For students with no prior TB testing or students with a previous negative TB testing an IGRA blood test (either a Quantiferon Gold or T-Spot) OR a 2-step Turberculin Skin Test (also referred to as “TST” or “PPD”) is required.

For 2 step skin testing the 2nd test should be placed 1-3 weeks after the 1st.

If you have a history of a positive test for TB you will need to document any subsequent testing or treatment AND have a healthcare provider complete a TB Symptom Questionnaire.

Yes.  You can complete required items with a licensed provider of your choice or call the student health center at (202) 687-2200.

Yes. Call the Student Health Center at (202) 687-2200

$25 at time of service

Please call the Student Health Center at (202) 687-2200