Policies and Procedures
POLICY 5450B:
COMMUNICABLE DISEASE
Western Wyoming College will initiate a public information program to inform students and staff about communicable diseases and immunity from measles, mumps, and rubella.
Western Wyoming College will require mandatory evidence of immunity to measles for students who live in on-campus housing, and will ask these students to voluntarily provide evidence of immunity to rubella, mumps, chicken pox and all other communicable diseases. This policy includes all family members if the student lives in married student housing, including spouse and/or children.
Students in the Health Science Programs and employees of Food Services and the Children's Center are also required to submit proof of measles immunization.
Adopted June 23, 1988
PROCEDURE 5450B:
COMMUNICABLE DISEASE
In an effort to safeguard the health of those students who live on campus, Western Wyoming College has initiated a program to insure a high degree of immunity from measles, mumps, rubella and all other communicable diseases.
Students in the Health Science Programs and employees of Food Services and the Children's Center are also required to submit proof of measles immunization.
This program will include mandatory evidence of immunity to measles and voluntary compliance for immunity to rubella, mumps, chicken pox, and all other communicable diseases for all students who live on-campus.
Medical Background
- Physician diagnosed measles on physician's stationary and signed by him or her
- Laboratory evidence of measles immunity
- Adequate immunization with live virus vaccine on or after the individual's first birthday showing vaccination after 1967
- Date of birth prior to 1957.Persons in this category are considered to have had natural infection and therefore do not need measles vaccine.
- Contradictions to immunization (Anaphylactic egg or Neomycin reactions, pregnancy, or altered immune states)
- Positive serologic test or health care provider validated date of vaccination
- History of disease not acceptable
- Contradictions: pregnancy, Neomycin allergy, or altered immunity
- A certified medical exemption which may be obtained from a physician or a County Health Department Public Health Nursing Office
- Should an outbreak of vaccine-preventable disease occur on campus, all students and employees who are not certified immune shall be excluded from campus during the course of the outbreak.
Measles is a preventable disease that is generally more serious in the College age population. It is felt by the U.S. Public Health Service Center for Disease Control and the Wyoming Department of Health that measles will continue to be a serious problem on college campuses. College-age populations are the most susceptible to measles at this time.
The primary goal of rubella vaccination is the prevention of congenital rubella syndrome which occurs during the first three months of pregnancy. Typically, rubella is a benign disease which cannot be diagnosed without laboratory testing.
The use of the measles/mumps/rubella (MMR) combined vaccine is considered to be best because it carries no significant risk of serious side effects. Information on possible side effects from the vaccine and information regarding persons who should not receive the vaccine would be available from physicians.
Acceptable Proof of Immunity
Measles (Required)
Rubella (Voluntary)
Exemptions
Implementation
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all new residents in on-campus housing must show evidence of immunity by August 18, 1988 unless and exemption is granted
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returning students must show evidence of immunity or exemption by November 15, 1988
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The State of Wyoming "Goldenrod Immunization Card" will be the primary official transcript for documentation of immunization requirements. WWCC will also accept an official immunization record in other forms from physicians' offices and from other health care providers, if original and signed the appropriate official.
This program is to be implemented in two phases:
Enforcement
This policy, as it relates to housing, will be administered by the Director of Housing. For other areas (health science, children's center, food services) the appropriate supervisor will verify that students/employees have complied.
Publication
Information will be sent to all students requesting on-campus housing effective for the Fall '88 semester.
News releases regarding the policy and the need for same will be released through the College's Public Information Office and disseminated throughout the community.
Replaces 5330 – Immunity
Approved June 23, 1988
