Frequently Asked Questions

As a prerequisite to registration, Florida International University requires all students to comply with the following immunization policy regulations from the Florida Board of Governors regarding measles, mumps, rubella, meningococcal meningitis and hepatitis B immunity.

If an immunization hold is present on a student's account, they may not have provided proof or submitted insufficient evidence of immunity to MMR, Hepatitis B, and Meningitis. 

To remove a hold, the student must provide the Health Compliance Office with the proper documentation. All documentation processes within two business days (48 hours) of acceptance. 

You may submit a copy of your immunization records: 

• Via fax: to 305-348-3336 or 305-919-5312 

• Via email: scanned documents to immune@fiu.edu (subject: Panther ID#) 

• Via mail: FIU-Health Compliance Office, 11200 SW 8th Street, SASC 1260 Miami, FL 33199 

After submitting your immunization documents, our team will review and process them. Records processing takes about 24 to 48 business hours. During this time, please be patient. Our team will contact you directly if there is missing or insufficient information

To see if your holds have been lifted, check your my.fiu.edu account.

The following documents are acceptable proofs of immunity for all vaccines, provided that the dates are suitable and the documents are signed and stamped by the health care provider: 

• FIU Immunization Documentation Form 

• Health Department records 

• Childhood immunization records 

• School immunization records 

• Military service records 

• Documentation of having the disease during their lifetime: Applies to Measles (Rubeola) and Mumps only 

• Laboratory blood test (serology) results demonstrating immunity: 

• Measles (Rubeola): positive IgG titer required 

• Rubella: positive IgG titer required 

• Hepatitis B: positive AB antibody surface titer required 

• Meningitis: a lab test is not valid and will not be accepted 

If students cannot locate their immunization records and believe they have taken the vaccines, a positive lab test against both the Measles (Rubeola) and Rubella and/or Hepatitis B is sufficient to remove the holds. 

Laboratory blood tests with equivocal or negative results will not be accepted.

There could be several reasons why you still have a hold for the MMR: 

• Your record may indicate that you only have one MMR vaccine. The university requires that all students have two MMR vaccines before registration, therefore you will need to take a second MMR before we can remove your hold. We offer the vaccine at FIU Student Health Clinics. 

• Your record may be missing the doctor's stamp or signature. You must provide us with the missing portion before we can accept the record and remove the hold. 

• Your record may indicate that you took the shot before your first birthday. Each MMR vaccine must be given after your first birthday as per Florida state regulations, otherwise, it is not valid. If you received your first dose of MMR before your first birthday you will need to receive an additional dose of MMR to clear your hold. 

• Your second dose of MMR may not be valid. The second dose must be given at least 28 days after the first dose. If the second shot is received too soon, it is unacceptable. If you received your second dose before this time passed you will need to receive an additional dose of MMR to clear your hold.

Yes! Students can receive vaccines at the FIU student clinic (FIU Student Health Clinics) at the MMC campus. Students can receive vaccines at the Student Health Clinics by calling 305-348-8385 to schedule an appointment. 

FIU requires three doses of the Hepatitis B vaccine to remove this immunization hold. The second dose must be administered at least 28 days after the first dose. You must receive the third dose at least 112 days after the first dose and at least 56 days after the second dose. 

We strongly recommend this vaccine, but it is not mandatory. Therefore, you may sign and submit a waiver for this vaccine which will remove your hold. 

You can read and accept this waiver electronically through your MyFIUaccount. Once you log in, click on “Student Tools.” Then, click on “Student Health” and finally, click “Accept." 

Please keep in mind that if you are under 18 years of age, your parent or legal guardian must sign the waiver. 

• Hepatitis B Vaccine Waiver Form

FIU requires one dose of the Meningitis (Meningococcal) vaccine to remove this immunization hold. 

We strongly recommend this vaccine, but it is not mandatory. Therefore, you may sign and submit a waiver for this vaccine which will remove your hold. 

You can read and accept this waiver electronically through your MyFIU account. Once you log in, click on “Student Tools.” Then, click on “Student Health” and finally, click “Accept." 

Please keep in mind that if you are under 18 years of age, your parent or legal guardian must sign the waiver. 

• Meningitis Vaccine Waiver Form 

Students must submit immunization records at least four (4) weeks before they register for classes. 

If a student does not physically come to FIU’s campuses, then they are not required to submit proof of immunizations to the Health Compliance Office. However, a letter is still required from the student’s academic department. 

If a student is part of a program that takes place outside of FIU's campuses, they have the option of waiving the immunization requirements by providing the Health Compliance Office with a letter from the program. 

Yes. All students taking classes on an FIU campus must submit appropriate documentation showing proof of two doses of the MMR vaccine (measles, mumps, and rubella), one dose of Meningitis (meningococcal), and three doses of Hepatitis B. Additional information about the immunization requirements may be found on the Registration Holds page. 

If a student is part of a program that takes place outside of FIU's campuses, they have the option of waiving the immunization requirements by providing the Health Compliance Office with a letter from the program. 

Transient students from another public university in Florida can submit immunization documents, or provide the Health Compliance Office with a copy of their transient form, to verify that they received the Measles and Rubella vaccines (or the MMR combined vaccine) at their home institution. This option will lift the student's MMR immunization hold temporarily for one semester. 

Transient students need to provide documentation regarding Hepatitis B and Meningitis via proof of vaccination or waivers. 

If a student continues taking classes as a transient student, they will need to submit proof each semester. A student's home institution can also send the Health Compliance Office a copy of the original immunization record. 

Yes. All students taking classes on an FIU campus must submit appropriate documentation showing proof of two doses of the MMR vaccine (measles, mumps, and rubella), one dose of Meningitis (meningococcal), and three doses of Hepatitis B. Additional information about the immunization requirements may be found on the Registration Holds page.

Yes. A hybrid student is a student who enrolls in a program that combines both on-campus and off-campus learning via online classes must submit records to HC.  

Yes, students attending classes at FIU at I-75 located in Miramar must submit immunization records. Below is the contact information for additional assistance: 
 
FIU at I-75 
1930 SW 145th Avenue 
Miramar, FL 33027 
Phone: 954-438-8600 
Fax: 954-438-8606 
Website: FIU at I-75 in Miramar 

Health Compliance recommends that all students submit proof of immunizations for the three required vaccinations of MMR, Meningitis, and Hepatitis B. However, if you will be part of an off-campus program or if you are a dual enrollment student not attending campus, you do not have to submit immunization records. Your program coordinator or advisor* needs to contact the Health Compliance Office at least 3 4 weeks prior to your registration date. This deadline must be met in order to ensure that all immunization holds are removed from your account prior to registration. Please keep in mind that if you expect to visit the campus at any time, you must submit proof of immunizations to be compliant with the Florida state immunization requirements. 

*Note for program coordinators and advisors: If you are submitting a list of students needing temporary immunization exemptions, please send it at least 4 weeks prior to the student's registration date so we may remove their holds in a timely manner. We thank you for your cooperation in adhering to this deadline.

Yes, you must comply with FIU’s immunization policy.  

Students who have a permanent medical condition in which vaccinations are not recommended or may lead to a bad reaction to a vaccine can request permanent medical exemptions. Proper documentation includes a  Personal Physician Vaccine Waiver Form  or letter from a doctor's office with the following information: 

• The date the letter was provided by the M.D. 

• A brief explanation for waiving the vaccine permanently 

• The student's panther ID number 

• An M.D. stamp and signature 

This letter is valid for one semester unless the letter specifically states an expiration date. Once the expiration date has passed, the immunization hold will automatically assign to the student's account. 

If a student is pregnant, breastfeeding, trying to get pregnant, or undergoing fertility treatments, we do not recommend getting a vaccination. 

If a student is temporarily ill or involved in any medical circumstance, we do not recommend that the student receive any vaccines. 

Immunization records are requested from students before their first semester at FIU and are maintained by the FIU Health Compliance Office for up to 7 years. If you would like to request a copy of your previously submitted records, please complete an FIU Authorization for Release of Immunization Form. All requests must be accompanied by a valid photo ID. 

After the release form is received, the Health Compliance Unit can fax, or email immunization records as requested. Processing the request will take 24-48 hours.