Over 1,000 students will be unable to register for spring or summer semester until they show proof of MMR immunization.
Since 1998, the Tennessee Department of Health has required that students entering college show proof that they have received two doses of the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine. The first dose must have been given on or after the first birthday.
Students born prior to 1957 or those with a documented history of physician diagnosed measles, mumps or rubella are exempt from this requirement.
ETSU allows a one-semester grace period which allows students to register for classes one time without proof of the immunization.
“By the end of October, we look at students records and encumber those who have not compiled with the state requirement, said Barbara Knight, health education coordinator for Student Health Services. “In other words, we put a registration hold on students so they cannot register for their second semester until they bring in their MMR record.”
“Most students have already had their immunizations, it is just a matter of getting the documentation into the clinic,” she said.
Students need to find out as soon as possible if they have a hold placed on their registration. “Most students call after they have tried to register,” Knight said. “He or she needs it released right now because he or she is trying to get into a class.”
The staff must manually release those with a hold in the computer system, she said. “This is time consuming if you have hundreds needing to be released.”
Student Health has sent out a letter to those students who have a hold explaining what they need to do.
Students can go by Student Health Services as a walk-in patient to get the immunization. The cost is $20 and the clinic is open from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Students can also receive the immunization from their physician or health department and fax the documentation to Student Health at 439-4560.

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