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Immunization and Records

North Carolina Immunization Requirements

North Carolina State law (General Statute 130A 152-157) requires that all new (undergraduate and graduate) students enrolling in college at any time during the year present documented proof of immunization. If you are taking four (4) or more credit hours on the main campus before 5 p.m., you must sign into your HIPAA-protected portal. 

Immunizations are required by the state of North Carolina and must be physician-certified or verified by a clinic stamp before registering at NCCU. Failure to comply with mandatory state immunization laws requires administrative withdrawal from the University. 

Obtaining Proof of Immunizations

Locating proof of your immunizations can be challenging. You may submit other acceptable records as proof of your immunization. Those records may be obtained from any of the following: 

  • North Carolina high school records: These may contain some, but not all, of your immunization information.
    • High school transcripts from other states are not considered acceptable for documentation per the NC Branch of Immunization requirements. 
  • A previous college or university:  Your immunization records do not transfer automatically. You must request a copy.
  • Personal shot records: Must be verified by a doctor’s signature or by a clinic or health department stamp.
  • A county health department or Health and Human Services.
  • Military records or WHO (World Health Organization) documents: These records may not contain all of the required immunizations.
  • North Carolina Immunization Registry (NCIR) records are acceptable proof of immunization. 

If you do not have immunizations at all, you will need to visit your healthcare provider to receive the required immunizations. Have your doctor supply you with a copy of your immunization record that shows the date of the immunizations received. Records should then be entered and uploaded to the medical records portal (visit the portal now). 

Required Immunizations                       

Immunization/Vaccine Minimum Number of Doses Required  
DTap/DTP/Td Three (3) doses 
Tdap Booster One (1) dose 
Polio Three (3) doses (only if 17 or younger) 
MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella)Two (2) doses (must have been after first birthday) 
Hepatitis B series Three (3) doses (if born after July 1, 1994) 
Varicella (if born on or after April 1, 2001) 
Tuberculin Skin Test (only if born outside of the U.S.) 
Meningococcal conjugate (MenACWY) Two (2) doses (if born on or after Jan 1, 2003) or 1 dose (If first dose received at age 16 or later) 

Hepatitis B Requirement 

  • Three (3) shot series must be completed.
  • Students born before July 1, 1994, are not subject to this requirement. 

Note that HIB is not the same as HEPB/HB.

MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella) Requirement

  • Two (2) MMR vaccines 28 days apart beginning on or after the first birthday
  • Two (2) measles, two (2) mumps, and one (1) rubella single dose or
  • Documentation of (+) titer

Students born before 1957 are not subject to this requirement except in the event of an outbreak. 

  • Titers are accepted with documentation by serological testing to have a protective antibody titer. 

Measles and mumps vaccines are not required for any of the following: an individual who has been documented by serological testing to have a protective antibody titer against measles and mumps and submits the lab report; an individual born prior to 1957; or an individual enrolled in college or university for the first time before July 1, 1994. 

An individual entering college or university prior to July 1, 2008, is not required to receive a second dose of measles or mumps vaccine. 

Rubella is not required if for any of the following: those who are 50 years of age or older; individuals enrolled in college or university before February 1, 1989, and after their 30th birthday; an individual who has been documented by serological testing to have a protective antibody titer against rubella and submits the lab report along with ordering provider results interpretation.

Live viruses must be given on the same day or 28 days apart, for example, MMR and varicella. 

Polio Requirement 

  • Three (3) doses are required.
  • Students who have attained their 18th birthday are not subject to this requirement. 

Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis (DTP Childhood Series) and Tdap (Tetanus-Diphtheria-Pertussis) 

  • All students entering college on or after July 1, 2008, must have had three (3) doses of tetanus/diphtheria toxoid.
  • One (1) dose must be a Tdap.
  • One (1) dose is recommended within the last 10 years.

Varicella Requirement - Live Viruses

  • One (1) dose (two (2) doses preferred) or proof of laboratory confirmation of varicella disease immunity. Varicella vaccine or proof of immunity is not required if an individual was born before April 1, 2001. 

Live viruses must be given on the same day or 28 days apart (for example, MMR and varicella). 

Meningococcal Conjugate (MenACWY) 

  • Two (2) doses
  • One (1) dose is required for individuals entering the seventh grade or by 12 years of age, whichever comes first, on or after July 1, 2015.
  • A booster dose is required by 17 years of age or by entering the 12th grade. However:
    • The first dose does not apply to individuals who entered the seventh grade before July 1, 2015.
    • The booster dose does not apply to individuals who entered the 12th grade before August 1, 2020.
    • If the first dose is administered on or after the 16th birthday, a booster dose is not required. 
    • An individual born before January 1, 2003, shall not be required to receive a meningococcal conjugate vaccine.

Tuberculosis Screening Requirement 

  • Required for international students or non-US citizens. 
  • Students from high-risk countries (as determined by the CDC) may require a Tuberculin Skin Test (TST) or PPD or a QuantiFERON blood test.  

Live viruses must be given on the same day or 28 days apart (for example, MMR and varicella). 

North Carolina Recommended Immunizations 

  • Hepatitis A
  • Influenza
  • COVID-19
  • Pneumococcal Disease
  • Meningococcal B 
  • Human Papillomavirus (HPV )
    • A three (3) shot series must be completed (specifically, Gardasil, Gardasil-9, or Cervarix).

Immunization Deadline  

  • Fall Semester: August 1
  • Spring Semester: December 15 

Immunization Records Form 

Immunization records need to include the following: 

  • Your name
  • NCCU Banner ID number
  • Your date of birth (month/day/year) format
  • The name, address, and phone number of the doctor’s office providing the record.
  • The month/day/year of the immunization received 

Lab Reports and Radiology Reports  

Lab reports and radiology reports may be used to complete some requirements. If a lab report is submitted, then an official and complete report from the laboratory or the radiologist is necessary. 

  • These are generated from the lab or the radiologist.
  • They contain your name and birth date, as well as the name, address and phone number of the lab/radiologist.
  • Lab work must contain numeric values for the normal range of the lab result.
  • Lab work must contain the numeric value for the patient’s lab result. 

Exceptions to North Carolina Immunization Regulations

NC Public Law does not apply to: 

  • Students classified as “Distance Education."
  • Students attending night or weekend classes only.
  • Students attending in the evening (starting at 5 p.m.).
  • Students registered for four credit hours or less and residing off-campus. 

Please note that if you are considered an on-campus student, you will have to meet North Carolina immunization requirements. 

Enrollment in online classes does not constitute you as being a Distance Education program student. As such, students who are taking a class or classes online are still required to submit proof of immunization compliance. For questions or special circumstances, please contact the Student Health Center via email [email protected] or call 919-530-6317. 

Medical Exemption

G.S.130A-156. Medical exemption. 

The Commission for Public Health shall adopt by rule medical contraindications to immunizations required by G.S. 130A-152. If a physician licensed to practice medicine in the state of North Carolina certifies that a required immunization is or may be detrimental to a person's health due to the presence of one of the contraindications adopted by the Commission, the person is not required to receive the specified immunization as long as the contraindication persists. The State Health Director may, upon request by a physician licensed to practice medicine in this State, grant a medical exemption to a required immunization for a contraindication not on the list adopted by the Commission. 

Medical exemptions can only be requested by a physician licensed to practice medicine in North Carolina. If a physician determines the need to request a medical exemption from a required immunization for a patient and needs assistance, they should contact the North Carolina Immunization Branch at 919-707-5550. 

Medical Exemption (PDF, 170 KB) (DHHS 3987) 

Use this form for true contraindications, i.e., those recognized by the Commission for Public Health. 

Use this form for contraindications not recognized by the Commission for Public Health. 

Religious Exemption 

Under G.S.130A-157, if the bona fide religious beliefs of the student are contrary to the immunization requirements, then the student can be exempt from the state’s immunization requirements. In order to claim a religious exemption, the student requesting the exemption must write a statement of their religious objection to immunization, including the name and date of birth. This statement should be provided to the school in place of an immunization record. 

Religious Exemption

Philosophical Exemption

North Carolina does not allow for philosophical exemptions — those who object to immunizations because of personal, moral or other non-religious beliefs (10A NCAC 41A .0403).

A primary series of the World Health Organization (WHO) approved COVID-19 vaccines is highly recommended but not mandatory for all NCCU students beginning August 1, 2022. 

The COVID-19 booster vaccine is highly recommended but not mandatory for all NCCU students. 

The flu vaccine is encouraged for all NCCU students but is only mandatory for NCCU Health Science students. You must receive a flu vaccine on or after Aug. 1, 2022, to meet this requirement. The deadline for receiving the flu vaccine is later than the deadline for receiving the other state-mandated vaccines. The deadline for flu compliance will be announced at a later time. You will have many opportunities to receive the flu vaccine on NCCU’s campus.  

Failure to comply with the State of NC and NCCU University Immunization Requirements by the 30th day of class will result in the deactivation of your NCCU card. Your registrar will be notified, and you will not be able to attend class or register for future classes. 

The NCCU unique ID number that Student Health Center uses is a nine-digit number that starts with eight. M.I. stands for middle initial (common in the United States). You can leave this field blank if you do not have an M.I. If you do not know your NCCU unique ID number, be sure your full name and date of birth are on your form so that we can access your chart. 

Failure to complete the online forms may cause a delay in processing your records. Log into the Student Health Center Gateway by using your Net ID, password and birthday. Click the “Forms” tab on the left tool bar to complete the online forms. Please follow Step 4 under the steps for immunization compliance. 

This is the preferred method and will facilitate the processing of your records. This form can be found on the NCCU Student Health Center website under the immunization compliance tab. 

Yes. The form must be completed online, printed and submitted with your immunization record (along with any additional testing or documents if applicable). Please upload to your Student Health Gateway. 

Yes, all pages of the TB screening questionnaire must be submitted. 

Yes, but an estimate is also okay. The question is really designed for a person who travels and not necessarily a person who has lived their entire life in a different country. In the instance that you have traveled, we do need to know the exact months you have been traveling to other countries. 

We encourage domestic students to receive their immunizations and complete their TB testing before arriving on campus. International students will be given the opportunity to complete their TB testing and receive any necessary vaccines at NCCU during the week of SOAR. The Student Health Center does not perform PPD skin tests. All TB testing will consist of an IGRA blood test. The cost of this test is $80, which will be billed to the student’s insurance company. 

You will have an opportunity to receive any necessary vaccines, titers, and TB testing when you arrive at NCCU. You will receive information from your program later this summer regarding the immunization event that will be held in August for those entering the fall semester. Those enrolling in the spring semester can schedule an appointment with our immunization nurse by calling 919-530-6317. 

The cost of vaccines and TB testing is not covered under the Student Health Center Fee. These services will be billed to the student’s insurance company. 

This form allows any NCCU facility to treat you if you are in need of treatment, and it gives NCCU permission to bill your medical insurance company — including Student Health Center, urgent care, and the Emergency Room (ER). It is not part of the immunization compliance process, but it is a form we are asking all incoming students to complete before you get here. 

You can leave those fields blank. You only need to sign the area that says Policy Holder or Guarantor and date. A parent or guardian should sign your form if you are under the age of 18. 

The status remains "not satisfied" or "awaiting review" because we have not yet reviewed your records. This can take up to three (3) weeks. Once they are processed, you will get a secure message through the portal notifying you of your immunization compliance status. Please note that your TB testing will remain non-compliant until you complete the test and we receive the results. 

You are receiving this message because the systems that confirm your enrollment to the University have not yet synced with our health record. Please check back in a few days for access. We apologize for the inconvenience. 

Upload any additional immunization documentation to your Student Health Center Gateway under the Medical Clearances - Immunization Request Form update button. 

The Student Health Center staff cannot verify your online submissions without your official immunization record. 

Yes, you will receive a secure message on your Student Health Center Gateway when your records are processed, notifying you of your immunization status. Please be patient as this can take up to four (4) weeks. If you are non-compliant, the message will outline what you are missing. You must provide us with these missing items within 30 days of the first day of class. If you are partially compliant, the message will inform you of the date your next vaccine or titer is due. If you are compliant, the message will inform you that no further action is necessary. 

Yes, you will receive an email in your NCCU account notifying you that you have received a secure message from NCCU Student Health. Log in to the Student Health Center Gateway and click on “Messages” on the left toolbar. It is extremely important that you read all messages sent to you from the Student Health Center. Failure to do so is the primary reason students fall out of immunization compliance, which leads to disruption in their educational experience. 

Yes, being partially compliant means that you cannot receive any more required vaccines or titers until the necessary time has passed since your last vaccine(s). 

If you do not receive the vaccine in the time frame stated in the message you receive, you may be withdrawn from class, and your NCCU Eagle card may be deactivated. 

The Student Health Center only places hold on registration and deactivates Eagle cards after the 30th day of class. If you are experiencing problems before the 30th day of class, please contact your registrar or the NCCU Eagle Card Office. If your card has been deactivated due to immunization compliance, you should immediately contact Student Health at 919-530-6317 to schedule an appointment with the immunization nurse. 

It can take up to 24 hours for a hold to be removed once you have become compliant. 

TD protects against tetanus and diphtheria. Tdap protects against pertussis, tetanus, and diphtheria. The Tdap vaccine was licensed in 2005 and is not available in all countries. If you need a dose of Tdap for immunization compliance, you can receive it at Student Health once you arrive at NCCU. The State of NC requires three (3) doses of a tetanus vaccine for college entry. One of these three doses must be a Tdap, and one must have been given within the last 10 years. 

This is very common in many parts of the world, but in North Carolina, per law, it must be given after the first birthday. This does not mean you received the dose inappropriately; it just means it doesn’t match North Carolina law. You will have the choice of either receiving another dose or testing your blood to prove immunity. 

You can choose the dropdown box for Hepatitis B unspecified. Rest assured that if you make any errors when you’re entering your vaccines (date or brand), our staff will correct your record when we are reviewing. 

You can have blood titers drawn to prove immunity to measles, mumps, and rubella. Please send the lab reports, complete with reference ranges. 

The State of North Carolina does not allow us to accept titers for other required vaccines. If you are unable to find your documentation, you will need to restart those vaccine series. Please receive as many doses as possible before your arrival, and we will help you complete the series at the appropriate time frame when you arrive at NCCU. 

You will need to attach a copy of your marriage certificate or proof of name change to verify that the record is yours. 

You will need a note from a physician verifying your pregnancy and your approximate due date. Contact the Student Health Center for more information by emailing [email protected]. 

Medicat MyChart is a secure online portal that gives you access to Student Health, access to your medical health record, and receives fast communication with your health care team.  

You can visit myEOL home page and click on the “Medicat” Icon to sign into your portal using two-factor authentication.

That is a great question and one that is hard to answer. The short answer depends on how many hours you are taking on NCCU’s campus in North Carolina. Please check with your academic department, as there are many different NCCU hybrid programs, and it is hard to give a single answer.