Updated vaccine requirements for incoming first-year and transfer students who are new to North Carolina colleges or universities

Bottom Line Up Front:

• The State of North Carolina has implemented a new vaccination requirement for students attending colleges and universities in the State, which requires a meningococcal vaccine booster after age 16.
• The new requirement only applies to students enrolling at Wake Forest University for the first time as of January 1, 2025. Students who have been continuously enrolled before that date will not be required to do anything additional.
• New students who have not received the meningococcal vaccine booster can do so at Deacon Health upon arrival to campus. Students are required to comply with this requirement before the first day of classes. If the vaccine is not received by that time, students may face restrictions on course enrollment or University-sponsored housing.
• Medical and religious exemptions apply where appropriate.

Wake Forest University policy and North Carolina state law state that all undergraduate and graduate students are required to be up to date with required vaccines. As of January 1, 2025, the State of North Carolina will implement a new vaccine requirement for incoming students enrolling for the first time at a 4-year college or university in the state. The new requirement adds an additional dose of meningococcal conjugate (MenACWY) for students whose first dose was received before age 16 and a single dose for those who have not received a dose at all by age 16. Individuals born before January 1, 2003, will not be required to receive meningococcal conjugate vaccine. This new requirement will apply to all new students except those enrolling in off-campus-only courses, attending night or weekend classes, or taking a course load of four (4) credit hours or less. Students are required to provide proof of vaccination or an approved religious or medical exemption before the first day of classes. If the vaccine is not received by that time, students may face restrictions on course enrollment or University-sponsored housing. You may read the entire policy here.  

Immunization records should be uploaded via the Health Information and Immunization Form (HIIF) form available in the DeaconHealth Portal before the first day of classes for the upcoming semester. Vaccines can be obtained from your local health department, your personal physician or at Deacon Health by appointment. Students may also request a religious or medical exemption by following the instructions here.