Rhode Island Code of Regulations
Title 216 - Department of health
Chapter 30 - Infectious Diseases
Subchapter 05 - Infectious Diseases
Part 3 - Immunization and Communicable Disease Testing in Preschool, School, Colleges or Universities (216-RICR-30-05-3)
Section 216-RICR-30-05-3.6 - Minimum Standards for Immunization and Communicable Disease Testing for Students Entering Colleges or Universities
Universal Citation: 216 RI Code of Rules 30 05 3.6
Current through September 18, 2024
A. Each student, upon entering any college or university in Rhode Island, shall furnish evidence to the administrative head of the college or university (pursuant to the requirements of §3.6.2 of this Part) that the student has been immunized, as required in §3.6.1 of this Part, unless the student is in an exempt category (e.g., documented evidence of immunity).
B. For the immunization requirements stipulated in §3.6.1 of this Part, a student who is not in compliance with these requirements shall be excluded from attending college or university classes until the requirements are met, unless the student belongs in an exemption category or is in a waiting period between doses as described in §3.6.3(B) or §3.6.3(C) of this Part.
3.6.1 College or University Entry: Immunization Requirements
A. Each
student, upon entering any college or university, shall furnish evidence as
required in §3.6.2 of this Part of having received the vaccines described
below:
1. Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis
Vaccine. Evidence of having received a single dose of Tdap vaccine.
2. Measles, Mumps, and Rubella Vaccines. Two
(2) doses of live measles, mumps and rubella vaccine given at least four (4)
weeks apart beginning on or after twelve (12) months of age.
3. Hepatitis B Vaccine. Three (3) doses of
hepatitis B vaccine administered in accordance with ACIP
recommendations.
4. Varicella
(Chickenpox) Vaccine. Two (2) doses of varicella vaccine given at least four
(4) weeks apart beginning on or after twelve (12) months of age.
5. Meningococcal Vaccine. Beginning August 1,
2015, one (1) dose of meningococcal conjugate (MCV4) vaccine in the last 5
years is required for previously unvaccinated newly enrolled full-time
undergraduate and graduate students (under twenty-two (22) years of age) in a
degree program at a college or university who will live in a dormitory or
comparable congregate living arrangement approved by the institution.
3.6.2 Immunization Records
A. Acceptable evidence of
completion of immunizations shall include the day, month, year and type/name of
each dose of vaccine administered. The record of such evidence shall be signed
by a physician, physician assistant, certified registered nurse practitioner,
or other licensed practitioner acting within his/her scope of practice (the
signature of the student's parents is not acceptable). This record may be
submitted to the college or university by a health care provider, another
college or university, the student, or a parent/guardian.
B. For students who initially entered primary
school on or before 31 December 1989, existing immunization records shall be
deemed acceptable, provided the record contains a valid exemption form or
contains documentation that the student has completed the required
immunizations.
C. Acceptable
evidence of completion of immunization consists of:
1. An official immunization record card,
school immunization record, Medical Passport, World Health Organization
immunization record, or other official immunization records acceptable to the
Department; or
2. An electronically
stored and/or transmitted documentary record (facsimile transmission,
computerized record, including, but not limited to, a record on magnetic media
or similar record) as may be utilized by a school; or
3. Presentation of laboratory evidence of
immunity is made in the case of measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis B, and
varicella (chickenpox); or
4. A
physician, physician assistant, certified registered nurse practitioner, or
other licensed practitioner acting within his/her scope of practice signs a
statement that the student has a history of chickenpox disease
(varicella).
3.6.3 Provisions for Exclusions, Waiting Periods, and Exemptions
A.
Exclusions
1. Students who have not received
the minimum number of required immunizations, who are not in a prescribed
waiting period between doses, as specified in §3.6.1 of this Part and who
are not exempt pursuant to §3.6.3(C) of this Part, shall be excluded from
the college or university by the administrative head of the college or
university, pending the completion of the required dose(s) of
vaccine(s).
2. Students upon
entering any college or university shall be excluded unless evidence is
submitted that the student has received initial dose(s) of required vaccine(s)
for college or university entry as set forth in these Regulations.
3. The presence of a vaccine-preventable
disease outbreak is determined in consultation with the Department. If an
outbreak of vaccine-preventable disease should occur, an exempt student shall
be excluded from school by the administrative head of school for a period of
time as determined by the Department based on a case-by-case analysis of public
health risk.
4. The college or
university shall have a written protocol in place for the exclusion of
unvaccinated students in the event of an outbreak. An accurate and current
listing of all unvaccinated students shall be maintained by the college or
university for this purpose.
B. Waiting Periods
1. If, at college or university entry, a
student is within a waiting period for the minimum number of doses for a given
vaccine, the student shall be enrolled and/or admitted to the college or
university. It shall be the responsibility of the administrative head of the
college or university or his/her designee to ensure the completion of at least
the minimum number of immunizations, following the prescribed waiting period(s)
and consistent with the provisions of these Regulations.
C. Exemptions
1. A student may be exempt from the
immunization requirements described in these Regulations provided that:
a. A physician, physician assistant,
certified registered nurse practitioner, or other licensed practitioner acting
within his/her scope of practice signs the Department's "Medical Immunization
Exemption Certificate" provided by the college/university attesting that the
student is exempt from a specific vaccine because of medical reasons, in
accordance with ACIP guidelines; or
b. A parent or guardian or student (if
eighteen) 18 years of age or older completes and signs the Department's
"Religious Immunization Exemption Certificate" provided by the
college/university, attesting that immunization conflicts with the tenets of
their religious beliefs; or
c. The
administrative head of the college or university or his/her designee signs a
Temporary Immunization Exemption Certificate, provided by the
college/university, indicating that an appointment with a health care provider
for the required immunization(s) has been made. This temporary exemption shall
expire on the date of the immunization appointment.
Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Rhode Island may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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