According to Louisiana laws, entering students are required to provide proof of dates of immunization for a handful of life-threatening diseases.
Enrolled students must provide proof of having received two doses of the measles vaccine, at least one dose each of the rubella and mumps vaccine and a tetanus-diphtheria booster. The University also mandates a meningococcal vaccine and tuberculosis screening.
Only first-time University students or students re-entering the University are required to fill out the proof of immunization compliance form.
Though proof of immunization is required, students can sign a request for an immunization exemption for medical or personal reasons.
Julie Hupperich, associate director of the Student Health Center, said, “We strongly discourage signing the waiver.”
Hupperich said students who sign the waiver may be expelled from campus in the event of an outbreak of measles, mumps or rubella. She encourages students who have signed the waiver to reconsider it and receive the required vaccines.
“Many of the vaccines prevent life-threatening diseases in one simple step,” Hupperich said.
Jennifer Kazusky, fashion merchandising sophomore, thinks vaccines are critical on a college campus.
“You are constantly in close contact with other people in classes or on the bus,” she said. “Diseases like measles or mumps could spread so quickly if someone has not received a vaccine.”
Vaccines can be administered at the Student Health Center. The measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, also known as the MMR vaccine, costs $100. The tetanus-diphtheria booster is $35, and the meningococcal vaccine is approximately $100.
First-time or re-entering students are not eligible to pay University fees until they send in the proof of immunization compliance form.
For more information, visit shc.lsu.edu or call the SHC Immunization Desk at 225-578-0593.
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Contact Kaitlin Torke at [email protected]