Please refer to UC Immunization Requirements and Recommendations for the UC guidelines and UC Davis SHCS New Students page for additional information.
- How do I know if I have an immunization hold (IZ hold) related to my UC Immunization and Tuberculosis (TB) Screening Requirements?
- Log in to schedule builder. If you have an IZ hold you will see a banner up top stating you have an IZ hold and the term that it applies. Please pay attention to the term. The comment refers to your first enrolled quarter, not the quarter that the hold will affect. A comment of 202410 is Fall 2024 and that your hold will prevent registering for Winter 2025.
- One of the required vaccines is not available in my country (such Tdap or meningococcal ACWY). Can I still register? Do I need an exemption?
Though the requirement and STRONG recommendation is to complete all of your entrance requirements before arriving on campus, the university gives you a grace period to complete your requirements. The hold will affect your second quarter registration on campus (for most people Winter Quarter) if you are not compliant by your registration date (“First Pass”) for your second quarter.
The required vaccines and testing are available at the Student Health and Wellness Center (SHWC).
- Why is my MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) non-compliant?
In order to meet the requirement, your MMR vaccine series must be:
- Two (2) doses
- Both doses given on or after your 1st birthday
- At least 28 days apartIf you received your first dose even 1 day before your first birthday, it does not meet the requirement.
Do not enter MMRV (measles, mumps, rubella, varicella) if you did not receive MMRV. If you received MMR and Varicella on the same day but not as one vaccine, enter the specific vaccines separately.
If one or both of your doses was before your 1st birthday, you can either get additional doses of vaccine, or, submit IgG titers (blood test for immunity) for each disease - measles, mumps, and rubella. If any one of your titers does not show immunity to the disease, you will still need to get additional dose(s) of vaccine
- Why is my varicella (chickenpox) non-compliant?
In order to meet the requirement, your varicella vaccine series must be:
- Two (2) doses
- Both doses given on or after your 1st birthday
- At least 28 days apartIf you received your first dose even 1 day before your first birthday, it does not meet the requirement.
Do not enter MMRV (measles, mumps, rubella, varicella) if you did not receive MMRV. If you received MMR and Varicella on the same day but not as one vaccine, enter the specific vaccines separately.
If one or both of your doses was before your 1st birthday, you can either get additional doses of vaccine, or, submit IgG titer (blood test for immunity) for varicella. If your titer does not show immunity to the disease, you will still need to get additional dose(s) of vaccine.
- Why is my Tdap non-compliant?
UC recently changed the requirements to be on/after 11th birthday and every 10 years thereafter.
If you received the vaccine before your 11th birthday or more than 10 years ago, you will need to get an updated Tdap vaccine. You can also ask your primary care physician to request a medical exemption.
If you are entering a new program (such as undergraduate to graduate), the new requirement applies to you
- I entered my meningococcal vaccine, but I am still non-compliant. Why?
The UC requirement for meningococcal conjugate (MenACWY) vaccine (such as MenQuadFi, Menactra, Menoumune) is for all people aged 21 or younger. The dose must be on or after your 16th birthday.
Please make sure you enter your most recent dose. Many people receive one around age 11-13 and a booster dose at age 16 or 17.
The requirement is on/after age 16. Make sure you've entered your most recent dose. If you only received one dose at age 12, it does not meet the requirement.
Please verify the type of meningococcal vaccine you received. Though UC highly recommends meningococcal B vaccine, it is not a requirement and MenB (Trumenba, Bexsero) will not satisfy the requirement.
If you are 22 or older, you will not see Meningococcal listed on your Medical Clearances page even though it is listed as required.
If you are under 16, please have your medical provider fill out a medical exception form.
- I've entered the first dose I received of Penbraya. Why am I still non-compliant?
- Penbraya (MenACWYB) requires 2 doses, 6 months apart to meet compliance. If you received 1 dose and are not eligible for your second dose yet, please message the IZ Nurse box so we can assist with your compliance.
- I uploaded my vaccine records, but why are they still non-compliant?
You must enter the individual doses and dates as well as upload your records.
Be sure to enter all dates for a multi-dose series (varicella, MMR). You do not need to enter every date for single dose vaccines (influenza, Tdap), but make sure to enter your most recent dose.
- Why is my COVID-19 not compliant? I received doses before.
UC policy is to stay up to date per CDC recommendations. COVID-19 vaccination status is not associated with your immunization hold (IZ hold) nor will it affect your ability to register.
If you do not want or are not eligible for an updated vaccine, you can submit an exemption. At the bottom of the Requirements page, click on "Request an Exemption." Select the COVID-19 option and fill it out.
- Why is my influenza (flu) not compliant? I received doses before.
Influenza (flu) vaccination is a seasonal requirement based on flu season in the Northern Hemisphere. Doses from previous flu seasons do not meet the current year's requirement.
Influenza vaccination status does not generate an immunization hold (IZ hold) on your registration.
If you do not want or are not eligible for a flu vaccine, you can submit an exemption. At the bottom of the Requirements page, click on "Request an Exemption". Select the Influenza (flu) option and fill it out.
- Will I have a hold because of COVID-19 and influenza (flu) compliance?
- No
- Why is my tuberculosis (TB) test not compliant?
If you are required to submit a TB test, the test must be completed within one year of entry to UC Davis. So, if your first day at UC Davis is September 1st, 2024 but your test was completed on August 1st, 2023, that test is too old to meet the requirement.
Does your documentation have 2 personal identifiers on it? All records submitted must have at least two personal identifiers on it such as name and date of birth.
Did you submit a chest x-ray by itself? A chest x-ray without a history of positive TB test is not sufficient for clearance. A chest x-ray is only used for clearance if you have a positive TB test or a history of testing positive for TB.
- Why didn't you accept my chest x-ray for TB test requirement?
Chest x-ray without history of positive TB test is not sufficient.
Does your documentation have 2 personal identifiers on it? All records submitted must have at least two personal identifiers on it such as name and date of birth.
- I don't think I need TB testing because I received the BCG vaccine. Why do I need to complete TB testing?
BCG vaccine does not protect adults against active TB disease.
UC policy indicate those at higher risk of TB need to complete TB testing.
If you received BCG vaccine, please submit an IGRA blood test (QuantiFERON Gold TB Plus or T-Spot) for TB testing instead of a skin test (TST/PPD/Mantoux). A history of BCG vaccination can cause a false positive on skin test (TST/PPD/Mantoux), but it does not cause a false positive on an IGRA blood test. You can read more about skin test here from CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/tb/testing/skin-test.html.
- My PPD was positive but I received BCG vaccine as a child, so my provider said it's probably a false positive. Why aren't you accepting my TB test?
If you received BCG vaccine, the preferred TB testing method is an IGRA blood test (QuantiFERON Gold TB Plus or T-Spot) instead of a skin test. A history of BCG vaccination can cause a false positive on skin test (TST/PPD/Mantoux), but it does not cause a false positive on an IGRA blood test. You can read more about skin test here from CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/tb/testing/skin-test.html.
Any TB test that is interpreted positive, regardless of BCG vaccine history, will need a chest x-ray completed to rule out active TB disease for clearance, even if it is likely a false positive.
- I'm a graduate student and I already did the entrance requirements as an undergraduate. Why am I showing as non-compliant?
Each time you have completed a program and enter a new program you are considered a new incoming student and must comply with the requirements, including re-assessing tuberculosis (TB) risk.
For example, if you complete your undergraduate degree and return as a graduate student or complete a master’s degree and start a law degree, you will need to complete the requirements.
- I did the TB screening questions previously. Why is it showing as “expired” or non-compliant again?
For a period of time, the questionnaires were set to expire after 2 years. It is possible that your questionnaire expired during that time. Expired questions should not cause a registration hold unless you are starting a new program.
If you have enrolled in a new program, your TB questionnaire is cleared and reset.
To check if you have an IZ hold, log in to schedule builder. If you have an IZ hold you will see a banner up top stating you have an IZ hold and the term that it applies. Please pay attention to the term (e.g. 01-2025 is Winter Quarter, not Fall Quarter).
- I don't have a titer for MMR and varicella (chickenpox). What do I do?
- You can meet the requirements by submitting vaccine records or titers indicating immunity. You are not required to submit both.
- I had chickenpox (varicella) as a kid. Why am I not compliant?
Documented illness is not sufficient to meet the requirement.
Vaccination history (2 doses, on or after 1st birthday 28 days apart) or a titer indicating immunity.
- Why am I non-compliant even though I did a titer?
- Please double check how you entered your titers and whether results are negative or positive and indicate immunity. Indeterminate does not meet the requirement.
- I submitted all documentation, entered my dates and doses and have verified it meets the requirement, but it still says non-compliant. Why?
- Please refresh your screen and log in and out. Click on Requirements and Forms. Ensure that the documentation you uploaded is attached and meets the requirements. If you still need assistance, message IZ Nurse inbox.
- I can’t locate any of my vaccine records as a kid and don’t know what I received. What should I do?
Please try your best to locate your records. This may involve contacting your pediatrician or primary care provider's office.
If you were vaccinated in California, you can go to your California Digital Vaccine Record site and request your immunization record. Sometimes not all vaccines administered will populate on the record, especially if they predate electronic medical records.
If you were vaccinated in another state, you can try contacting their state immunization registry to see if they have a similar website or method to access your vaccine history.
If you think you were already vaccinated against measles, mumps, rubella and varicella, but cannot locate the records, you can submit IgG titers (blood test) indicating immunity to those diseases in lieu of vaccine records. If those titers do NOT show immunity, you will still need to be vaccinated.
It is not possible to meet the vaccine requirement for Tdap vaccine or meningococcal vaccine with titers.