Are two doses of the meningococcal (meningitis) vaccine sufficient for a young adult to meet college entry requirements?

Meningococcal Vaccination Requirements for College Entry

For college entry, a single dose of MenACWY vaccine received on or after age 16 (within 5 years before enrollment) is sufficient to meet standard requirements for first-year students living in residence halls. 1

Understanding the Two-Dose Question

The confusion about "two doses" likely stems from different vaccination scenarios:

Standard College Requirement (MenACWY)

• College freshmen living in residence halls need only ONE dose of MenACWY vaccine if it was given on or after their 16th birthday and within 5 years before college entry. 1
• If the student received only one dose before age 16, then a booster dose is required before enrollment, which would total two doses. 1
• If the first dose was given after age 16 but more than 5 years have elapsed, another dose is needed before college entry. 1

The Routine Adolescent Schedule

The standard ACIP-recommended schedule for healthy adolescents includes: 1

• First dose at age 11-12 years
• Booster dose at age 16 years

This two-dose schedule is designed to provide optimal protection through the high-risk college years, but for college entry purposes specifically, only the most recent dose matters if it meets the timing criteria above. 1

MenB Vaccines (Optional for Most Students)

MenB vaccines are NOT routinely required for college entry but may be recommended based on shared clinical decision-making: 1, 2

• MenB-FHbp (Trumenba): 2-dose series at 0 and 6 months for healthy adolescents 1, 2
• MenB-4C (Bexsero): 2-dose series at least 1 month apart 1
• These are typically optional unless the college specifically requires them or there's an outbreak 1

Key Verification Steps

To determine if a student meets college requirements:

1. Check the vaccination record for MenACWY (not MenB) - this is the standard requirement 1
2. Verify the date of the most recent MenACWY dose 1
3. Confirm it was given on or after age 16 1
4. Ensure it was within 5 years of college entry 1

Common Pitfalls

• Don't confuse MenACWY with MenB vaccines - they protect against different serogroups and have different requirements 1
• Individual colleges may have stricter policies than ACIP recommendations, so always verify the specific institution's requirements 1
• The timing of the dose matters more than the total number of doses for college entry purposes 1
• Some institutions may require documentation of both the adolescent dose (age 11-12) and the booster (age 16), which would be two doses, but this varies by institution policy 3

High-Risk Students Requiring Two Doses

Certain students at increased risk DO require a 2-dose primary series of MenACWY given at least 8 weeks apart, including those with: 1

• Persistent complement deficiencies
• Anatomical or functional asplenia
• HIV infection 1

These students would need both doses documented before college entry. 1