New Student Checklist And Frequently Asked Questions
- Waive or enroll in the University Health Plan through Aetna.
- Investigate the UHP if your out-of-state health insurance does not cover services at the Student Health Center.
- Receive meningitis vaccine or sign meningitis vaccine waiver acknowledging the risks of not receiving the vaccine.
- Send your completed and signed immunization record to the Student Health Center by August 1 for fall, January 3 for spring, or May 1 for summer.
- If you deal with ongoing medical or mental health issues, let us assist you in your health maintenance plan. Call 314-977-2323 prior to or at the beginning of the school year and make an appointment to see our providers.
- If you cant find the answer to a question on this page, contact us by phone at 314-977-2323 or email at .
What Should I Discuss With My Healthcare Provider Before Receiving This Vaccine
You should not receive this vaccine if you’ve ever had an allergic reaction to meningococcal group B vaccine.
This vaccine may need to be postponed or not given at all if you have:
- an allergy to latex rubber
- a severe illness with a fever or any type of infection or
- a weak immune system caused by disease or by using certain medicine .
You can still receive a vaccine if you have a minor cold.
Your doctor should determine whether you need this vaccine during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
Menacwy Vaccines Are Safe However As With Any Vaccine Side Effects Can Occur
About half of the people who get a MenACWY vaccine have mild problems following vaccination, such as:
- Redness where the shot was given
- Soreness where the shot was given
- Muscle pain
- Headache
- Feeling tired
If they occur, these reactions usually get better on their own within 1 to 2 days. Serious reactions are possible, but rare.
CDC continually monitors the safety of all vaccines, including MenACWY vaccines. For more information, view the Meningococcal ACWY Vaccine Information Statement.
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What Immunizations Are Recommended For Children And Adolescents
Ask your doctor what shots your child should get. The immunization schedule includes vaccines for:
- Bacterial meningitis.
- Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis .
- Flu .
- Haemophilus influenzae type b disease, or Hib disease.
- Hepatitis A.
- Polio.
- Rotavirus.
Immunizations start right after birth, and many are given throughout a baby’s first 23 months. Booster shots occur throughout life.
Fewer immunizations are needed after age 6. But older children and teens need shots too . Some shots are also given during adulthood .
It is important to keep a good record, including a list of any reactions to the vaccines. When you enroll your child in day care or school, you may need to show proof of immunizations. Your child may also need the record later in life for college, employment, or travel.
Talk to your doctor if you or your child plans to be in a group living situation, like a college dormitory or summer camp. You may want certain shots, like those for meningitis.
Why The Cdc Recommends Meningococcal Vaccination

Neisseria meningitidis can linger within the nasal cavity without causing disease in some people. Older estimates provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggest that about 10% of the general population carries the bacteria.
Generally, this bacteria can spread quickly when people are in close contact with one another. Thats especially true in group living situations, or among people who are intimate .
If someone is unprotected from the disease, it can go on to cause extremely severe illness or even death. About 10% to 15% of people with bacterial meningitis die. One in 5 may have permanent disabilities afterward, like hearing issues, brain and kidney damage, or limb amputation.
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Who Should Get The Meningococcal Vaccines
The MenACWY vaccine is recommended for college freshman living in a dormitory. The vaccine has been recommended for 11-12 year olds since 2005, so it is possible that incoming freshmen have already received a dose. If you received a dose before age 16, you should get a booster before you go to college.
Getting Shots And Vaccines With Your Health Insurance
Vaccines are important for protecting you from preventable diseases like measles, meningitis, and the flu. Vaccines prepare your immune system to fight diseases without making you sick, so that when you’re exposed to the real thing, you can save your days off of work for something more fun than lying in bed with a splitting headache and a burning throat.
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What Is Considered An Acceptable Meningitis Vaccine
The Meningitis vaccination recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers protection for Meningitis groups A, C, Y and W-135. The MCV4 and MPSV4 are the only vaccines currently accepted. Please visit the CDC website for additional information. The American College Health Association Immunization Guidelines agrees with the CDC recommendation.
What Countries Will You Need A Meningitis Vaccine For
The most common countries that are inflicted with meningitis are those along The Meningitis Belt which includes:
- Gambia
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Measles Mumps And Rubella
This is important if your child never got this shot.
This shot protects against measles, mumps, and rubella. There is a measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella shot that also protects against chickenpox . It can be substituted for either or both doses of MMR in children ages 12 months to 12 years.
Who should get it?
- If your child did not get either or both doses, he or she should try to get immunized at age 11 or 12.
- Some children may need another dose if your community has had a recent mumps outbreak. Ask your health department if your child will need another dose.
This shot does not necessarily reduce the risk of getting pneumonia. But it can prevent some of the serious complications of pneumonia, such as blood infections .
Who should get it?
Ingredients In Menacwy Vaccines
Menactra, MenQuadfi, and Menveo are all made through a process which chemically links a protein recognized by the immune system with a sugar molecule found on the surface of certain types of Neisseria meningitidis.
Usually, those polysaccharides are hard for the immune system to spot, but when theyre linked to proteins the immune system recognizes, your body learns to mount a response to it. These vaccines are called conjugate vaccines.
Importantly, each one of these vaccines contains polysaccharides from four different serogroups of Neisseria meningitidis.That allows the vaccine to protect you against four different subgroups of bacteria.
These vaccines do not contain preservatives or adjuvants .
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Some Safety Efficacy Concerns
Representatives of various organizations and several relatives of meningitis B victims urged the panel to endorse routine immunization against the disease. But some level of uncertainty about vaccine safety caused reluctance to vote for routine use.
The approved recommendation states, “A serogroup B meningococcal vaccine series may be administered to adolescents and young adults 16 through 23 years of age to provide short term protection against most strains of serogroup B meningococcal disease. The preferred age for MenB vaccination is 16 through 18 years of age.”
The recommendation is labeled as “Category B,” meaning that individual clinical decision-making is recommended. A Category A recommendation means a vaccine is recommended for everyone in an age-group or risk factor group.
“There are some red flags on the safety of this vaccine,” one ACIP member commented before the vote. He said the panel would review the possibility of a Category A recommendation when more safety data become available.
The ACIP’s recommendations are routinely adopted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , making them official policy.
Jessica MacNeil, MPH, of the CDC National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, in discussing the recommendation at today’s meeting, said the available meningitis B vaccines may not provide long-term protection and may not prevent all cases.
Does Medicare Cover Vaccines

Medicare covers the flu and pneumococcal vaccines at 100% under Part B, along with the hepatitis B vaccine for those at higher risk. That means no out-of-pocket cost to the patient. A tetanus shot after experiencing a deep wound or burn also should be covered.
Medicare Part D plans should cover the shingles vaccine, but check with your plan. You may have to pay at least a portion out of pocket if you havent yet reached your deductible for the year . There may be a copay, depending on your plan.
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Vaccine Pricing* And Accepted Insurance Plans
The Woodford County Health Department offers both Private and VFC vaccines. We are able to bill several insurance companies as well as serve patients who do not have health insurance. Appointments are required to receive vaccines. Please call 309.467.3604 with questions or to schedule an appointment.
Are Vaccines Safe For Young Children
Yes, vaccines are very safe. Every licensed vaccine goes through years of safety testing by the Food and Drug Administration to ensure they are as safe as possible. Currently, the United States has the safest vaccine supply in its history. The most common side effects are typically very mild, such as pain or swelling at the injection site.
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How Is Meningitis Treated
With mild cases of viral meningitis, you may only need home treatment, like drinking extra fluids and taking medicine for pain and fever. Bacterial meningitis is treated with antibiotics in a hospital. You may also get steroid medicine. You’ll be watched carefully to prevent serious problems such as hearing loss, seizures, or brain damage.
Healthy Infants And Children
One dose of Men-C-C vaccine is recommended in unimmunized children less than 5 years of age. One dose of Men-C-C vaccine may be considered for children 5 to 11 years of age if they have not previously been immunized as infants or toddlers. Immunization with 4CMenB vaccine or MenB-fHBP may be considered on an individual basis, depending on individual preferences, regional serogroup B epidemiology and strain susceptibility.
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How To Get Low
Children can receive financial assistance through the federal Vaccines for Children program. This is for kids who are:
-
Uninsured
-
Medicaid-eligible
-
American Indian or Alaska Native
The shingles vaccines manufacturer, GlaxoSmithKline, offers a patient assistance program for those without insurance who cant afford the vaccine. Your healthcare provider needs to apply for the program on your behalf.
Student Health Frequently Asked Questions
If you have a question that is not answered below, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Yes. Health insurance is mandatory for all full-time SLU students on campus. A request must be completed online through Aetna Student Health during open enrollment periods to either enroll in or waive out of the University Health Plan. If no action is taken, you will be automatically enrolled in the University Health Plan.
The Student Health Center is a regular fee for service physicians office and will bill your primary insurance company. You may pay your co-payment at the time of service. Charges are based on usual and customary fees in the St. Louis area. Billing questions can be answered by calling 314-977-5050. If you do not want us to bill your insurance, ask us about our self-pay options.
We bill all insurance companies. However, we recommend that you call your benefits plan coordinator first to see if they will cover our physician services. Please see this information on insurance companies who have contracted with SLUCare, as well as more tips for making sure your coverage is set up to cover you when you need it. If not, some students select the University Health Plan. You are responsible to pay the balance your insurance does not cover. If payment is not received within 120 days from the date of service, a hold will be placed on your registration.
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Are Free Or Low

Yes, if you don’t have insurance or your insurance does not cover the cost of the meningococcal vaccines, you may be able to find free or low-cost meningococcal shots. Note that there may still be an administration fee of up to $21.22 per shot.
- If you are 18 years old or younger: Talk to your doctor or clinic to see if they participate in the Minnesota Vaccines for Children Program.
- If you are 19 years old or older: Go to Vaccination Clinics Serving Uninsured and Underinsured Adults to search for a clinic near you that offers low-cost vaccines for eligible adults.
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What Are Some Reasons To Get Immunized
- Immunizations protect you or your child from dangerous diseases.
- They help reduce the spread of disease to others.
- They are often needed for entrance into school or day care. And they may be needed for employment or for travel to another country.
- Getting immunized costs less than getting treated for the diseases that the shots protect you from.
- The risk of getting a disease is much greater than the risk of having a serious reaction to the vaccine.
- When immunization rates drop below a certain level, preventable diseases show up again. Often, these diseases are hard to treat. For example, measles outbreaks still occur in the U.S.
If you are a woman who is planning to get pregnant, talk to your doctor about what immunizations you have had and what you may need to protect your baby. And if you live with a pregnant woman, make sure your vaccines are up-to-date.
Traveling to other countries may be another reason to get immunized. Talk with your doctor months before you leave, to see if you need any shots.
Which Shots Are Covered By Original Medicare
Original Medicare consists of two coverage areas: Part A and Part B. Part A covers inpatient hospital stays, and Part B covers certain doctors services, outpatient care, medical supplies, and preventive services.
Part B pays for the flu and pneumonia vaccines, as well as the hepatitis B vaccine for those at increased risk of hepatitis. Medicare Part B also covers vaccines given to treat an injury or direct exposure to a disease or condition, such as rabies and tetanus.
If you have original Medicare you can add drug coverage by joining a Medicare drug plan . Part D plans cover the cost of prescription drugs and many recommended vaccines.
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Preteens And Teens Are At Increased Risk For Meningococcal Disease An Uncommon But Serious Illness
Meningococcal disease can be devastating and oftenand unexpectedlystrikes otherwise healthy people. Although meningococcal disease is uncommon, teens and young adults 16 through 23 years old are at increased risk. Meningococcal bacteria can cause severe, even deadly, infections like
- Meningitis
- Bacteremia or septicemia
About 1 in 5 people who survive their meningococcal infection have permanent disabilities.
What Happens If I Dont Provide The Necessary Documentation
- You will not be able to register for classes until the proper documentation is received.
- A registration hold will be placed on your myUH account, and a pending item will remain on your student checklist.
- For new students: This hold will prevent you from registering for classes at New Student Conferencesso students must fulfill this requirement before or upon arrival to their New Student Conference.
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How Safe Are Vaccines
False claims in the news have made some parents concerned about a link between autism and the shot for measles, mumps, and rubella. But studies have found no link between vaccines and autism.
Some parents question whether mercury-containing thimerosal might cause autism. Studies have not found a link between thimerosal-containing vaccines and autism. Today, all routine childhood vaccines made for the U.S. contain either no thimerosal or only trace amounts.
Two major government agencies, along with vaccine makers and other groups, watch for, study, and keep track of adverse events that occur after vaccines are given.