Recommended Vaccinations for USD College Students

Vaccines are one of the best tools we have to keep ourselves and others healthy and safe from vaccine-preventable disease.

Talk to your healthcare provider to make sure you are up to date during your college years.

What vaccines are recommended for college students?

• MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella). Many receive this injection in childhood. You can get it as an adult if you aren’t sure if you’ve had it.
  
  Measles is a highly contagious virus that causes a rash, fever, and in severe cases, pneumonia, encephalitis (swelling of the brain), and even death.

  Mumps causes swelling of the salivary glands, fever, and can lead to complications like meningitis (swelling of the brain and spinal cord), deafness, and infertility.

  Rubella (German measles) is a mild infection in children, but in pregnant women, it can cause miscarriage or serious birth defects in the baby, including heart problems, hearing impairment, and developmental delays.
  

• Meningitis. This vaccine is often given to preteens around ages 11 or 12, with a booster dose recommended at age 16. If your first dose was given when you were older, you could still be due for a booster dose, especially before entering college, where the risk of outbreaks is higher.

  Meningitis spreads rapidly across college campuses because people live and study in close proximity. It causes inflammation of the brain and spinal cord lining. It can lead to death or permanent disabilities like brain damage, hearing loss, or limb amputations.
  

• HPV (Human Papilloma Virus). This vaccine is often given around ages 9-11, with a second dose administered at least 6 months later. It’s recommended to receive the vaccine series before becoming sexually active, as HPV is transmitted through intimate contact.
  

  Human Papilloma Virus is the leading cause of cervical cancer, which can be deadly if untreated. HPV also causes cancers of the throat, anus, and genitals in both men and women. The vaccine can also prevent the development of genital warts caused by certain types of HPV.
  

• Covid-19. You can get an updated vaccination if your last dose was more than three months ago. It’s recommended to get an updated Covid-19 shot yearly, typically with your flu shot, but any time is better than not at all!
  

  Covid-19 can be severe and cause hospitalization, long-term effects, and death, especially in high-risk populations. The vaccine helps reduce the spread of the virus, particularly in communities with high vaccination rates.
  

• Flu (Influenza). Updated flu shots are available every year to match the most common circulating strains. For the best protection through respiratory illness season (fall through spring), try to get the flu shot in October or November, but any time is better than none at all.
  

  The flu can cause mild to severe respiratory illness, and in some cases, it leads to hospitalization or death, especially in older adults, young children, and those with weakened immune systems.

Join South Dakota Families for Vaccines

Are you passionate about public health and public policy? South Dakota Families for Vaccines is a grassroots organization that works to pass strong vaccine laws and defend against misinformation.

We need your voice now.