Los Angeles Campus
Q: Do I need to submit proof of immunization against COVID-19 to participate in my NYFA program?
A: Students and employees are strongly urged to stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccinations. Getting vaccinated against COVID-19 is best practice for protecting oneself from severe illness, hospitalization and death. Currently, NYFA does not enforce a COVID-19 vaccination mandate and students and employees are not required to submit to NYFA proof of COVID-19 vaccinations.
Q: Am I eligible for an updated COVID-19 vaccination?
A: Everyone 6 years and older should get 1 updated Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19, regardless of whether they’ve received the original COVID-19 vaccines.
Q: How do I get vaccinated in the US?
A: Vaccines authorized by the FDA are available to all. To schedule a COVID-19 vaccination appointment, please click here to learn of the various ways you can secure a COVID-19 vaccine in the US.
Q: What other immunizations are required?
A: Students must submit proof of immunization against Mumps, Measles and Rubella. No other immunizations are required.
Q: Why do I need to submit proof of vaccination against measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR)?
A: To protect our community! The Center for Disease Control (CDC), Public Health Departments, and State Departments of Education highly recommend students of post secondary institutions be immunized against measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR). NYFA must also comply with the law. NY state law (PHL 2165) requires all college students to be immunized against MMR or face possible dismissal.
Q: What is the danger of not being immunized against mumps?
A: Mumps can cause inflammation of the brain and spinal cord, inflammation of the testicles, inflammation of the ovaries and/or breasts, inflammation of the pancreas, spontaneous abortion and deafness. Mumps spreads through direct contact with respiratory secretions or saliva or through fomites. The spread of the mumps virus can be facilitated by close contact in certain settings, such as college dormitories.
Q: What is the danger of not being immunized against rubella?
A: Rubella infection is dangerous because of its ability to damage an unborn baby. Infection of a pregnant woman can result in a miscarriage, stillbirth or the birth of an infant with abnormalities which may include deafness, blindness, cataracts, heart defects, mental retardation, liver and spleen damage.
Q: What does “serological evidence of immunity” mean?
A: “Serological evidence of immunity” refers to results of a blood test that indicates the presence of antibodies against measles, mumps and/or rubella. Positive serological test results are acceptable proof of immunity.
Q: Does NYFA require students to be vaccinated against Meningitis Disease?
A: Although it is recommended that students, especially those electing to live in student housing facilities (housing opportunities for NY and Miami only) are vaccinated against meningitis disease and obtain this vaccination within 5 years of attending their NYFA program, submitting proof of being recently vaccinated against meningitis is not required. NYFA however does require that all students read the Meningitis Disease Information Sheet included in their acceptance packet and read, sign, and upload to the Applicant Portal, the Meningococcal Disease Response Form.
Q: Am I required to get vaccinated against Meningitis or Hepatitis B?
A: No. You are required to read the Hepatitis Information Sheet and the Meningococcal Disease Information Sheet included in your acceptance package. You are also required to read, sign and submit to the Student Applicant Portal a completed Meningococcal Vaccination Response Form. By signing this form, you acknowledge that you are aware of the risks of Meningococcal Disease and that you have decided either not to get immunized against Meningococcal Disease, to get immunized in the future against Meningococcal Disease, or that you have been immunized in the past five years against Meningococcal Disease. If and only if you report that you are vaccinated against Meningococcal Disease, you are required to upload a vaccination record that documents that you received the Meningococcal Disease vaccine within the past five years.
Q: What must I submit as proof for immunization against MMR?
A: To be in full compliance with the MMR immunization requirement, you must upload a completed and signed Meningococcal Disease Response Form and a completed and signed Student Immunization Record Form to the Student Applicant Portal.
Q: The Student Immunization Record Form must be completed by a physician. I can’t schedule an appointment with a physician before I begin my NYFA program. What other documents can I submit as proof of immunization against MMR?
A: NYFA will accept any of the following documents as proof of immunization against MMR.
- a certificate of immunization signed by a physician
- a copy of the immunization section of the cumulative health record from a prior school
- a migrant health record;
- a community plan health record
- a military immunization record
- the immunization portion of a passport
- an immunization record signed by a physician, physician assistant or nurse practitioner, or an immunization registry record
- a certificate of immunization signed by a physician
- serological evidence of immunity (blood test result report confirming immunity)
Q: When must I submit my vaccination forms and records needed to comply with the MMR immunization requirement?
A: Students are required to upload all vaccination documents and records to the Student Applicant Portal. Proof of MMR immunization must be submitted 30 days before the first day of New Student Orientation.
Q: Where can I get the MMR vaccinations?
A: Students may be vaccinated at no cost for Mumps, Measles and Rubella at multiple locations within LA County. Los Angeles Public Health provides a list to the following locations, several of which are in close proximity to the NYFA LA Campus. Los Angeles County Department of Public Health Immunization Clinics or DPH Public Health Centers
Q: I have more questions about the NYFA Immunization Requirements. Where can I get the answers and support I need?
A: Please refer to the Immunization Q & A document included in your acceptance packet and posted on the NYFA Health Requirements webpages. You may also send an email to immunizationsla@nyfa.edu
For Questions/Assistance: immunizationsla@nyfa.edu