Responsibility for Maintenance: Student Central
Date of most recent changes: June 23, 2022
I. Policy Statement
Immunization Against Measles, Mumps and Rubella
Pursuant to Section 2165 of the New York Public Health Law and accompanying regulations of the Commissioner of Health, each Student of Onondaga Community College must provide to the College a certificate of Immunization meeting the requirements of this policy from a Health Practitioner or other acceptable form of evidence of such Student’s Immunization against measles, mumps and rubella, unless such Student presents: (i) a certificate from a licensed physician or nurse practitioner certifying that such Immunization may be detrimental to the person’s health or is otherwise medically contraindicated (in which case the requirements may be waived until such Immunization is determined no longer to be detrimental to the Student’s health or otherwise medically contraindicated); (ii) proof of honorable discharge from the armed services within ten years from the date of application to Onondaga Community College (which shall qualify the Student to attend the College pending the actual receipt of Immunization records from the armed forces); or (iii) a written and signed statement from the Student, or parent or guardian if applicable, that they hold genuine and sincere religious beliefs that prohibit Immunization of the Student.
In the event that a Student registers at the College and has not complied with this section, the College shall inform such Student of the requirement that he or she be immunized, that such Immunization may be administered by any Health Practitioner, or that the Student may be immunized by the health officer in the county where the Student resides or in Onondaga County. In the event that the Student does not comply, he or she must be given notice that attendance at the College requires Immunization unless a valid reason is provided by such Student in accordance with this section.
The College shall not permit any Student to attend in excess of 30 days without complying with this section. Such 30-day period may be extended to not more than 45 days for a Student where such Student is from out of state and can show a good faith effort to comply with this section.
The College shall provide annually to the Commissioner of Health, on forms provided by the Commissioner, a summary regarding compliance with Section 2165 of the Public Health Law.
Immunization Against Meningococcal Meningitis
With regard to meningococcal meningitis, and pursuant to Section 2167 of the New York Public Health Law and accompanying regulations of the Commissioner of Health, each Student of the College must receive, in a form provided and approved by the Commissioner of Health, a response form, to be completed by the Student or, where the Student is under the age of 18 years, such Student’s parent or guardian, which shall include the following: (i) certification that the Student has received Immunization against meningococcal meningitis within five years preceding the date of the response form; or (ii) certification that the Student or parent has received and reviewed the information provided by the College and understands the risks of meningococcal meningitis and the benefits of Immunization, and has decided that the Student shall not obtain Immunization against meningococcal meningitis.
The College shall not permit any Student to attend the College in excess of 30 days without complying with this section, provided, however, that such 30 day period may be extended to not more than 60 days if a Student can show a good faith effort to comply.
Immunization Against COVID-19
Students who plan to attend in-person classes and/or utilize in-person services or perform clinical rotations at a SUNY facility shall provide evidence of receiving the full vaccination series of any COVID-19 vaccination or apply for an exemption pursuant to this policy. Students must provide this evidence prior to coming to campus and show that such vaccine was received at least two weeks prior to arriving on a SUNY campus for any reason, including, without limitation, moving into a residence hall, attending in-person campus classes, and/or entering any SUNY facility. Students will not be eligible for registration until evidence of receiving the full vaccination service is provided to the college.
II. Reason for Policy
This policy is intended to ensure compliance with New York Public Health Law Sections 2165 and 2167, and the corresponding Department of Health Regulations.
III. Applicability of the Policy
This policy applies to all Students who are registered for 6 or more credit hours. All Students, and all employees of Student Central, should be familiar with this policy.
IV. Related Documents
- New York State Public Health Law Section 2165 and 2167
- New York State Commissioner of Health Regulations, 10 NYCRR Part 66-2
V. Contacts
| Subject | Office Name | Title or Position | Telephone Number | Email/URL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Submission of required proof of Immunizations as required by this policy; requests for exceptions as permitted by this policy | Student Central | Vice President, Enrollment Management | (315) 498- 2111 | gaffneys@sunyocc.edu |
VI. Definitions
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Student | Means any person born on or after January 1, 1957, who is registered to attend or attends classes at Onondaga Community College, who is enrolled for at least six semester hours or the equivalent per semester. |
| Health Practitioner | Means any person authorized by law to administer an Immunization. |
| Immunization | Means an adequate dose or doses of an immunizing agent against measles, mumps, rubella and meningococcal meningitis which meets the standards approved by the United States Public Health Service for such biological products, and which is approved by the New York State Department of Health under such conditions as may be specified by the Public Health Council. |
VII. Procedures
Responsibilities of College Officers and Administrators
The College’s President and Vice President of Finance, are deemed responsible for the implementation and enforcement of this policy. The President will ensure that adequate resources are directed to overall compliance and will review the annual “Post-Secondary Institution Immunization Survey Summary” prior to its transmittal to the New York State Department of Health. The Vice Presidents will, according to their areas of institutional control, ensure that staff and students are fully informed of the substance and intent of this policy and will provide inter/intra departmental cooperation requisite to full compliance.
The Vice President of Finance will ensure enforcement of all requirements including reporting and referral of non-compliant Students, reporting of any and all extant cases of measles, mumps or rubella to the proper Health Department authorities, and the exclusion from attendance at the College of any and all non-compliant Students. The Vice President of Finance will implement procedures outlined herein in a manner consistent with maximal compliance and ensure that the records are maintained in an accurate and timely manner. The Vice President of Finance, or his or her designee, will directly supervise such professional and clerical personnel that the College deems necessary with regard to the review of documents, the surveillance of noncompliance, the maintenance of records and the reporting of noncompliance to the Vice President of Finance. The Vice President of Finance will compile and complete the annual Post-Secondary Institution Immunization Survey Summary, which will be forwarded to the State Health Department each year after review by the President.
Certificate of Immunization Requirements:
For measles, a Certificate of Immunization that shows the Student has:
- received two doses of live measles virus vaccine, the first dose administered after the age of 12 months and the second dose administered more than 30 days after the first dose but after 15 months of age; or
- been diagnosed by a physician as having had measles disease; or
- demonstrated serological evidence of measles antibodies; or
- if the Student is unable to provide a certificate of Immunization that satisfies the above requirements, documentation that proves the Student attended primary or secondary school in the United States after 1980 will be sufficient proof that the Student received one dose of live measles virus vaccine.
For Mumps, a certificate of Immunization that shows the Student has:
- received a single dose of live mumps virus vaccine administered after the age of 12 months; or
- been diagnosed by a physician as having had mumps disease; or
- demonstrated serological evidence of mumps antibodies.
For Rubella, a certificate of Immunization that shows the Student has:
- received a single dose of live rubella virus vaccine administered after the age of 12 months; or
- demonstrated serological evidence of rubella antibodies.
For COVID-19, a certificate of immunization that shows the student has:
1. received the full vaccination series of any COVID-19 vaccination
A Certificate of Immunization that shows the Student is in the process of completing the above stated requirements for Measles, Mumps, and Rubella is also acceptable, if the Student has received at least one dose of live measles virus vaccine, has complied with the mumps and rubella requirements, and has an appointment to return to a Health Practitioner for the remainder of the Immunizations (in the case of measles, the appointment may not be scheduled more than 90 days since the administration of the first dose of measles virus vaccine).
Record Keeping and Reporting
Records will be maintained by the College such that the status of any and all students can be ascertained on short notice and in a manner consistent with regulations of the Commissioner of Health. Such records will include but not be limited to the following, and will be held to be strictly confidential with access limited to those College or State personnel whose duties require information from these records.
The College’s master file will include the “Immunization Status” of all students in accordance with the requirements of this policy. At the direction of the Vice President of Finance, such additional information as is deemed necessary will be recorded for all students whose status would include them in the “Total Number Enrolled” for reporting in the “Post-Secondary Institution Immunization Survey Summary.”
The Vice President of Finance or his/her designee will review all Immunization information submitted to determine compliance with the Commissioner’s regulations. Immunization data will be entered on the College’s master file and maintained for a period of at least 10 years.
Original copies of all records of Immunizations administered by Student Central, lab work results, and documentation of exempt status will be maintained by Student Central.
A file will be maintained by the Vice President of Finance that will include the names and status of all students deemed “susceptible”. This surveillance file will be maintained and reviewed and in the case of an outbreak of disease will be available for the execution of orders by the appropriate health officer with regard to each category of Student under surveillance. This file is used in conjunction with the master electronic file for the removal from classes of non-compliant students by the Vice President of Finance.
An Immunization Survey Summary form will be submitted annually by Student Central in the format specified by the New York State Department of Health from the records specified above. This summary will be then will be forwarded to the Immunization Program at the Department of Health by the deadline established.
Student Assistance
The College will provide reasonable assistance to Students in their efforts to comply with this policy in a timely manner. Such assistance will include, but is not limited to: (i) early notification of the requirements for Immunization or exemption as an integral part of the application and admission process; (ii) timely and consistent follow-up notices to non-compliant students at appropriate intervals; and (iii) referrals to practitioners authorized to administer Immunizations including those health officers of the County mandated to do so for those unable to pay.
Approved by OCC Board of Trustees April 3, 2006
Updated and approved by the President March 28, 2016
Updated and approved by the President June 23, 2022