UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — With students’ return to campus for fall semester, University Health Services (UHS) is encouraging students to verify their immunization status to ensure they’re adequately protected.
All Penn State students are required to have two doses of the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine. UHS is asking students to check their immunization status and submit a copy of their immunization record to 126 Student Health Center.
Students who are not adequately immunized should contact their health care provider for additional information. Students may schedule an appointment to receive vaccines by contacting their campus student health center or private health care provide.
Although there are no outbreaks at any Penn State campus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, at least four mumps outbreaks have been reported on U.S. college campuses in 2014.
Symptoms for mumps, which is a viral infection, often include fever, headache, muscle aches, fatigue, loss of appetite and tender, swollen salivary glands under the ear and along the jaw line on either or both sides of the face. Adults who contract mumps are at a higher risk for developing serious infections.
In the event of an outbreak, students who are not fully compliant with immunization requirements may be asked to receive additional vaccines, leave campus or be restricted from class attendance for a period of time.