University requiring Measles Immunization - for On-line course

[ThoughtCriminal]

My wife recently completed an on-line university course, and just discovered that her credit is apparently being held because they have no record of measles immunization.

A few details:

- This is an on-line class. There is NO attendance at the university campus - it was conducted entirely over the internet.
- We live hundreds of miles away from the campus and do not go anywhere near it.
- She is over 50. She is not sure if she had the measles or immunizations as a child.
- This requirement was not presented when she enrolled. We payed for the course and she completed the classwork.
- This is a state university

I have not yet found an exemption for distance learning students. There are apparently exemptions but the links I have checked so far are dead.

[MADem]

1. If she's over fifty, she's been inoculated as a child.

She needs to call the dean of students and get someone to override that lunacy.
http://www.vaccineinformation.org/measles/qandavax.asp
When did measles vaccine become available?
Measles vaccine became available in 1963. An improved measles vaccine became available in 1968. Combination measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine became available in 1971. Combination measles-mumps-rubella-varicella (MMRV) vaccine became available in 2005.

[enlightenment]

3. Without proof they won't accept age as evidence.

Trust me on this one - I couldn't prove mine and got to do it all over again. They did allow me to have a straight measles shot instead of an MMR.

wankers.

Do call the dean - and the President of the uni. Also consider calling the Board of Regents in the state where the school is located and letting them know that you're willing to 'go public' with this idiocy.

[MADem]

4. Yeah, tell them that you're talking to a reporter from a major newspaper about it.

He wants to do a story, but quite graciously you want to give the school a chance to fix the matter before you make them look like stupid tools who believe that disease can be transmitted over the INTERNET!!!

I'd be tempted to ask the idiot dean if he wears a condom during phone sex! Can't be too careful, after all!

[Heddi]

12. You can always get a TITER if you are unsure of your vaccination or infection history

As a child, I had chickenpox, but I had no documentation (at the age of 32) that I had chickenpox vs some other pox like illness. So rather than get the varicella vaccine, I was able to get a varicella titer that showed I had immunity to chicken pox - the titer did not differentiate between immunization vs. natural infection.

I also got an MMR titer as well to ensure I was still had immunity to M, M, and R.

[Th1onein]

2. Call them.

If they don't give her the credit, sue their ass.

[Orrex]

5. Tell them that she uses Norton Anti-Virus, so she's safe from online diseases

Otherwise, that's pretty fucked up.

[uppityperson]

7. THAT is a great idea.

Would be a DUzy but it deals directly with the issue.

[Sgent]

6. Probably depends on the state

In my former state (MS), every student had to have a vaccination -- the only exception was if there was a medical reason and it had to be signed off on by the health dept doctor (not a private physician).

[lizerdbits]

9. I had to get an additional MMR my freshman year at MSU

We didn't have the documentation for that one on us so they boosted me in the dorm when I showed up. Glad I got the boost.

[ThoughtCriminal]

8. At this point she's trying to get in contact with the dean

But we're not expecting to hear anything ontil after the holidays.

[LeftishBrit]

10. Sounds like bureaucracy run mad!

I was told about a child who heard of someone being a 'doctor of computer science' and asked "Do computers catch measles then?" Maybe the university are scared their computers will catch measles!

[Heddi]

11. She can get a TITER without getting the immunization

A titer is a blood draw that shows the level of MMR vaccine or past exposure to Measles, Mumps, or Rubella through infection.

You can get a titer at public health centers--I had to get one when I applied for an RN position at the hospital I'm working at now because I had the MMR as a child, and the titer was required to ensure that i still had immunity (working around preggo's, etc). It cost me $10 at public health and the results came in within a few days.

I understand, though, your frustration with the need for an immunization that was not required when she signed up for the class, and not only that, but for a distance-education class as well. That's just ridiculous.

[ThoughtCriminal]

13. Good News

She got a waiver.