Immunization Policy

ALL STUDENTS are required to provide documentation of receiving their primary immunization series for each of the following vaccine-preventable diseases:

• Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis with a  booster in the past 10 years
• Polio
• Measles, Mumps and Rubella
• Hepatitis B
• TB screening

All students will be screened for risk factors for TB (tuberculosis) through a screening questionnaire. The TB screening questions determine if students require TB skin tests, chest x-rays, and sputum evaluations. This is consistent with the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendations. Links to complete information regarding ACIP provisional and final comprehensive recommendations, including schedules, indications, precautions, and contraindications, are available at the CDC National Immunization Program Web site.

Recommended vaccines are as followed:

• Meningitis is highly recommended for all students.
• Varicella should be given to students who have not had chicken pox.
• Hepatitis A should be considered for students who anticipate travel overseas.
• Typhoid should be considered for students who anticipate travel overseas.
• Yellow Fever should be considered for students who anticipate travel overseas.
• Annual Influenza is recommended to avoid complications in high risk patients, to avoid academic disruption and to limit transmission to high risk individuals.
• Pneumococcal polysaccharide is recommended for members of high-risk groups.
• HPV (human papillomavirus vaccine) is recommended for females 11-26 years of age, and males 11-21 years of age, other males 22-26 years of age may be vaccinated as well.

Ohio Wesleyan University (OWU) believes that the entire campus community is best served when every student is immunized. Ohio Wesleyan University will, however, consider an exemption that allows the non-immunized student to attend OWU for personal or religious reasons. The following are instances when the non-immunized student may be restricted by this exemption:

• Students deficient in any of the above immunizations MAY NOT be allowed to travel outside the USA on an OWU-sponsored trip.
• Students maybe required to leave campus should a case of one of the above vaccine-preventable diseases occur on the OWU campus. The student may return to class and/or living arrangements when the county Health Department and/or the OWU Medical Director deem it safe for the student and campus community. The student is responsible for any loss of fees, loss of credit hours, and/or missed assignments associated with this leave.
• Non-immunized students may need to have their living arrangements changed should any of their living partners have a health condition that would put them in danger or should the non-immunized person develop a disease which they are not protected against.

Refusal to Vaccinate Document

Refusal to Vaccinate Document (PDF*)

* Note: You will need the free Adobe Reader software to view/print PDF files. Click the “Get Adobe Reader” icon to begin the download process.