Health Center

Required immunizations and Tuberculosis screening

1. All students born after December 31, 1956 are required to provide documentation of two MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccinations received after the first birthday. This information must be on file before a student is permitted to register.
2. MMR vaccinations are available at the Health Center for no charge or $15 in some cases. The second dose can be administered no sooner than four weeks after the first. If no documentation is available titers can be done to prove immunity. Please call for the current price for titers.
3. Requests for immunization exemption can be made at the Health Center. Exemptions can be based on medical, religious, or personal grounds. If a student is granted an exemption and there is a suspected disease outbreak on campus, the student will be restricted from the campus for the duration of the outbreak.  In addition, exempt students may be ineligiblefor certain university sponsored activities.These activities may include, but are not limited to off-campus programs and classes, athletic programs and competitions, and study abroad.
4. International students, faculty and visiting scholars from countries at risk will be required to have a tuberculosis skin test (PPD). This test must be done at the Student Health Center after arrival at PLU. The cost is $20.00. All positive tests are required by the Tacoma Pierce County Health Department to be evaluated by a chest x-ray to rule out active disease.
5. MMR vaccinations and PPD testing must be done at the same time or at least four weeks apart. International students needing MMR vaccination are asked to get them at least four weeks before arrival or to wait until after arrival so the vaccination can coincide with the PPD test.

Immunizations we strongly recommend

1. Locate your immunization records
   If any of the following vaccines are missing, check with your insurance carrier. You may be able to obtain these vaccines at a pharmacy or supermarket, from your primary care provider, health department, or a variety of other sources. In many cases, these vaccines are available at no charge or for a nominal co-pay.

2. Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis vaccines (TdAP)
   Washington State is experiencing an increase in cases of pertussis (whooping cough). We strongly recommend a booster vaccine, particularly if the last vaccine was administered five or more years ago.

3. Meningococcal vaccine
   We urge this vaccine for students who are living in residence halls. The meningococcal vaccine protects against certain types of meningitis, which can be spread in university residence halls.

4. Varicella vaccine (chickenpox)

   This vaccine is strongly recommended for students who have not had the chickenpox disease.

5. Human Papilloma Virus vaccine (HPV)
   This vaccine is strongly recommended for men and women. It can prevent cervical cancer among a wide variety of other illnesses.

After undergoing these vaccines, please send us a record of your immunizations so that we can keep your file up to date. You may FAX a copy to 253-536-5042, scan and email the record to health@plu.edu, or send a paper copy to the PLU Health Center, Tacoma WA 98447-0003.