Immunization FAQs

A titer is a laboratory test that measures the presence and amount of antibodies in blood. A titer may be used to prove immunity to disease. A blood sample is taken and tested.

If the test is positive (above a particular known value) the individual has immunity. If the test is negative (no immunity) or equivocal (not enough immunity) you need to be vaccinated.

A Titer Lab Report is generated by the lab that tested the blood sample. The Titer Lab Report must include the test type, exact values, signature, and date.

Transcription means that a healthcare professional will review your immunization records, verify information, and fill out the needed information for the George Mason Certificate of Immunization (formerly Immunization Record Form). The Certificate of Immunization is not considered transcribed if “see attached” is written in the sections the healthcare professional must complete.

Students can have Student Health Services provide transcription service for a fee. Get more information about transcription.

Go to Step 2 “Gather Records” to learn where you may find your vaccination records.

No, students cannot only submit shot/vaccination records.

The George Mason Certificate of Immunization must be transcribed (filled out and signed) by a healthcare professional. This can be your healthcare provider or Student Health Services. Get more information about transcription at Student Health Services.

The Certificate of Immunization and any supporting documentation must be received and completed by the appropriate deadlines.

Yes. Immunization requirements are mandated by the Commonwealth of Virginia and George Mason University policy. Get information about incomplete records.

Students with the Certificate of Immunization transcribed and signed by a healthcare professional may submit a partial form as long as the majority of the required information is complete.

The student must also submit the missing proof of vaccination for the remaining requirement(s) before the deadline.  Students do not need to resubmit the entire form again.

Contact the Immunization Office (call 703-993-2135 or email immunize@gmu.edu) with questions about meeting requirements.

Log into the Patient Portal to check the status of your submitted form and records. The status will be updated after the Certificate of Immunization or documentation is submitted and processed, which can take 5-14 business days.

Two ways to check your status:

• Select ‘Messages’ from the Patient Portal navigation menu to read the message about your record status.  Read messages find out if your status is “complete” or “incomplete.” If the status is complete, you are done. If the status is incomplete, the message will explain what requirement is missing or needs updated. An email is also sent to the student’s Mason email account. The email will direct you to log into the Patient Portal. Check your junk/spam folder if you do not see a message in your inbox.
• You can also select “Immunizations – “View History” from the navigation menu. A message will state “Overall Status – Verified” once your immunizations are complete. If you have not met a requirement, then the vaccine will be listed under Missing Immunization. Vaccines will appear in the ‘Item on File’ section.

After you submit the required documentation, check the portal again for your updated record status.

No.  All immunization records and/or exemption forms should be uploaded to the Patient Portal.

You can choose to mail the Certificate of Immunization or Religious Exemption Form to the Immunization Office (4400 University Drive, MS 2D3, Fairfax VA 22030). Leave plenty of time for the forms to arrive prior to the deadline.

Retain copies of mailed documents for your records.

Log into the Patient Portal. There are two ways to check for missing requirements:

1. Select “Messages” from the navigation menu. You will be notified of missing or incomplete requirements once your records are processed. Read the message to learn more about how to complete the requirement.
2. Select “Immunizations – “View History” from the navigation menu. If you have not met a requirement, then the vaccine will be listed under Missing Immunization. Vaccines will appear in the ‘Item on File’ section. A message will state “Overall Status – Verified” once your immunizations are complete.
   • If you have an approved extension, your status will be listed as verified until the extension expires (if applicable).

Any supporting immunization documents must have two identifiers. Your full name must be one of the identifiers.

Students should write their date of birth (DOB) and Mason G# on the documentation to submit it. Preferred DOB format is MM/DD/YYYY.

Students should contact their health insurance provider to check their insurance coverage for immunizations and titers. Student Health Services cannot guarantee coverage, payment or reimbursement by your insurance company.

Students who have purchased the university Student Health Insurance plan have necessary immunizations and/or titers covered at 100% at Student Health Services. Details can be found in your Plan Details and Summary.

Get a copy of your Mason immunization record through the online Health Services Patient Portal.

1. Log into Patient Portal. Find log-in instructions here.
2. Select “Immunizations” then “View History” from the Patient Portal navigation menu.
3. Click the green Print button to download a pdf or print a copy of your record.

Student Health recommends that before graduating from George Mason, you download a copy of your immunization record to keep for your records.

Students can also fill out and submit the Release of Health Records FROM Mason form to request a copy of their immunization record. Submission options are listed on the form.

There is no fee for students to obtain their immunization record.

Student Health Services strongly recommends students complete the Meningitis B vaccine series, especially if you will be living in a residence hall or dorm-style residence.

There have been outbreaks of meningococcal B at several U.S. colleges and universities. And, both Meningococcal serotype ACYW and Meningococcal serotypeB have caused meningitis outbreaks. Meningitis ACYW vaccine does not protect against Meningitis B.

Note: The Meningitis B vaccine does not fulfill the Meningococcal quadrivalent (ACYW) immunization requirements.

More information about Meningitis is available from the Centers for Disease Control.

Vaccine Information Statements are available in many languages from the Immunization Action Coalition.

A professional or company has certified their written translation of a document.  

For the Immunization Office, translated documents must have: 

• Name, date, and signature of the certified translator 

• Contact information of translator 

• Statement of authenticity 

The Immunization Office may request additional information from the student. 

Get more details on certified translation from the American Translators Association. 

When you upload immunization documentation, each document must have at least 2 pieces of information that identify you. If your documents are missing identifying information or are labeled wrong, it could slow down your records processing.

Two identifiers should be your full name and your date of birth (preferred format MM/DD/YYYY), but can also include your Mason G#.  

Yes. If your class registration indicates your course takes place on-campus (Fairfax, Mason Square, Science & Technology, etc.) or if you reside on-campus, you must must submit the Certificate of Immunization and immunization documentation.

Yes. All students, part-time and full-time, degree and non-degree students, living on or off campus, must submit the Certificate of Immunization and immunization documentation in order to attend classes at George Mason University.

If you are enrolled in a 100% online program or for a fully online course load AND will not be participating in any activities on-campus or living on-campus, you do not need to meet requirements. You can check your current status in the Patient Portal.

Please note:

• If you are living on-campus (a residential student), you must submit the Certificate of Immunization and meet requirements, even if you are enrolled in all online courses.
• If a course you are registered for has any indication that your class will meet on-campus at any point throughout the semester, you must submit records and meet immunization requirements.
• If you are a fully online student but have enrolled in an on-campus class AND received special permission from the professor to be 100% online, you must contact the Immunization Office and request a waiver for the semester. You will need to submit written documentation from the professor stating these special permissions. 
• If your status changes to being on-campus, you must meet requirements.

If you have questions about whether or not you must submit records, contact the Immunization Office. 

Online-only students are welcome to submit the Certificate of Immunization now. If you decide to take an in-person class in the future, submitting ahead of time can help you avoid delays or concerns later in your program. Please follow the 5 steps to submit.

Yes, all George Mason students are required to submit the Certificate of Immunization and immunization documentation.

Complete the George Mason Certificate of Immunization form, even if you have previously submitted it.

There may be updated requirements since you were last enrolled.

Follow all 5 steps to submit the Certificate of Immunization and supporting immunization documentation.

You must complete and submit the George Mason Certificate of Immunization form.

Re-enrolled students most commonly need updated proof of compliance for:

• Tetanus-Diphtheria (Td or Tdap) vaccine. Your vaccine must have been received within the past 10 years. Check the date listed in the Patient Portal.
• Polio vaccine. Your last vaccine dose must be administered after your 4th birthday. Check the date listed in the Patient Portal.
• Tuberculosis (TB) Screening Questionnaire on the George Mason Certificate of Immunization. Must be completed and uploaded to the Patient Portal.

These are not all requirements that may be expired or incomplete. Get more information on immunization requirements.

Yes, all ADVANCE students need to submit the Certificate of Immunization and supporting documentation by the listed deadlines. Completed forms must be submitted during a student’s first semester in the ADVANCE program. As non-degree seeking students at George Mason, ADVANCE students must meet immunization requirements, even if they have not transferred to George Mason yet.

No. A history of disease is NOT accepted as proof of immunization. It is recommended to have titers drawn to verify sufficient immunity. If immunity is not positive, you will be required to receive MMR vaccinations.

No. Students must provide proof of vaccination. Go to Td/Tdap requirements.

No. You must have a current tetanus and diphtheria booster to register. This booster is required every 10 years. When you get your booster, it must be either: Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis), or Td (tetanus and diphtheria).

You can get this vaccine from your doctor, a pharmacy, a local health department, or Student Health Services. To make an appointment with Student Health Services, call 703‑993‑2135. There is a fee for immunizations.

Upload documentation of the vaccine to the Patient Portal.

Virginia law and George Mason policy says that students must show proof that they received the polio vaccine. Even if you got polio vaccines in the past, if you are not able to provide documentation of polio vaccine after the age of 4, you may not be fully protected. 

Gaps in vaccination can be dangerous. For example, in 2022, an unvaccinated young adult in New York developed paralytic polio. Tests of local wastewater found poliovirus spreading in the area (CDC MMWR). This shows that even in the U.S., people who are unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated can still get sick.

The blood titer test available to detect immunity for polio does not include all strains of the virus. If you are not able to provide documentation or you did not have a polio vaccine after the age of 4, you may not be fully protected.

Tuberculin (TB) testing is a procedure for diagnosis of TB Infection. This test is performed by either a tuberculin skin test or a blood test (T-Spot or QuantiFERON).

If you have a TB blood test, you must submit a copy of the lab report with your immunization records to the online patient portal. The lab report must include all four required test values.

If you have a TB skin test, you must submit the following documentation:

• Date the skin test was placed
• Date the skin test was read (24-72 hours after placement)
• Results of the test measured in number of millimeters.

If a tuberculin (TB) test is required for you, the test must be less than 3 months old from the first day of classes at Mason. A tuberculin skin test, a quantiFERON blood test, or a t-spot blood test will be accepted to meet the requirement.

Submit the TB test results with the Certificate of Immunization.

Students who have a positive TB test or known history of TB infection or disease must also submit a chest x-ray report. The chest x-ray report must be completed within 3 months of class start date (dated after May 1 of the current year for Fall enrollment or dated after October 1 of the previous year for Spring enrollment).

If a student was treated for TB infection or disease in the past, they must provide documentation and contact information from the health care provider who provided treatment. Documentation should include all the following information:

• TB test results
• Chest x-ray reports
• Names and dosages of medications taken
• How long the treatment lasted, including the start and end dates

No. A chest x-ray is only acceptable if you have tested positive for tuberculosis. You must complete a TB skin test or TB blood test less than 3 months from the first day of classes at Mason. The TB testing is required based on the screening questions on the Certificate of Immunization.

A licensed physician must complete and sign the George Mason Medical Exemption Form. Upload it to the patient portal.

Exemptions do not apply to the Tuberculosis Screening section on the Certificate of Immunization Form. Submit the Certificate of Immunization through the online Patient Portal.

Students must submit the signed George Mason University Certificate of Religious Exemption Form. 

Exemptions do not apply to the Tuberculosis Screening section on the Certificate of Immunization Form.

Submission options:

1. Upload to the online patient portal (preferred method).
2. Or, mail to “Immunization Office, 4400 University Drive, MS 2D3, Fairfax VA, 22030”.

Click here for more information about late fee and account holds.

If your Certificate of Immunization and supporting immunization documentation were received on time and are complete, then you will not receive a late fee. The Immunization Office can see the date of uploaded records, even if they are processed after the deadline.

If your records are not complete, you will incur a late fee, even if uploaded by the deadline. We encourage students to submit records early to ensure you have time to fulfill any missing requirements.

Late fees are applied for anyone not compliant with ANY immunization requirement by the listed deadline.

Log into the Patient Portal and select Messages from the navigation menu. You are notified of incomplete or missing requirements.

Learn more about the late fee.