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Medical Requirements for Registration

Student Health Services is charged with the responsibility of evaluating and maintaining medical requirements for registration for all University of South Florida students.

1. Florida law (Section1006.69 Florida statute) requires that all admitted Florida university students be aware of MENINGOCOCCAL MENINGITIS and HEPATITIS B , two diseases that may be prevented by vaccination. The vaccines for each of these diseases are available at the University of South Florida Student Health Services. Please click here for further information about these diseases. In addition, students residing in on-campus housing must present (a) proof of vaccination against MENINGOCOCCAL MENINGITIS, and (b) proof of vaccination against HEPATITIS B or sign a declination of HEPATITIS B proof. Please click here to access the form.
2. According to Florida Administrative Code Rule 6C-6.001(5) "Each student accepted for admissions shall, prior to registration, submit on a form, provided by the institution, a medical history signed by the student." As a prerequisite to matriculation or registration, the State University System of Florida requires all students born after 1956 to present documented proof of immunity to MEASLES (Rubeola) and RUBELLA (German Measles).

New admits will be provided an Immunization Health History Form with their admissions letter. Upon request, Student Health Services will mail or fax an Immunization Health History Form to you, or you may download a form from the Student Health Services Forms page and print it on a laser or inkjet printer.

In order to register, this form must be completed, signed, and returned to:

Consistent with Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services guidelines, acceptable proof of immunity is as follows:

Students can be considered immune to measles (rubeola) only if they have documentation of at least one of the following:

• Medical documentation of immunization with TWO (2) DOSES of live measles virus vaccine on or after the first birthday (and administered no less than 28 days apart). Persons vaccinated with killed or an unknown vaccine prior to 1968 must be revaccinated. Persons born before 1957 may be considered to have had a natural infection, and therefore do not need measles vaccine OR
• Copy of laboratory (serologic) evidence of measles immunity (IgG rubeola titer) OR
• A written, dated statement signed by a physician on his/her stationery which specifies the date seen and states that the person has had an illness characterized by a generalized rash lasting three (3) or more days, a fever of 101 degrees Fahrenheit or greater, a cough, and conjunctivitis, and, in the physician's opinion, is diagnosed to have had the 10-day measles (rubeola).

Students can be considered immune to rubella only if they have documentation as follows:

• Medical documentation of immunization with live rubella virus vaccine on or after the first birthday OR
• Copy of laboratory (serologic) evidence of rubella immunity (IgG rubella titer).

PLEASE NOTE: ALL FEMALES SHOULD BE AWARE THAT THEY SHOULD NOT BE VACCINATED IF THERE IS ANY POSSIBILITY OF PREGNANCY.

If a student has no documentation of any doses of measles vaccine, vaccine should be given at the time of entry and the second dose no less than twenty-eight (28) days later. It is recommended that both doses of measles vaccine be given as a combined measles/mumps/rubella (MMR) vaccine.

The documented date of immunization for both measles and rubella should indicate the day, month, and year. However, only month and year will suffice if the month and year indicate that the immunization was given at least 13 months after the month of birth.

Temporary Medical Exemptions - must be submitted by the attending physician, must include reason for exemption and duration of exemption.

Religious Exemptions - contact USF Student Health Services, 974-4056, for an application.

Immunizations and blood tests are available at USF Student Health Services, Tampa campus. Call 974-4056 for information. Contact Lakeland or St. Petersburg campuses for information on Immunization Clinics.