Immunization Compliance

To access your program’s immunization requirement forms, please click on your school or program below:

*ALL OTHER NON-HEALTHCARE PROGRAMS include: Harvard Business School, Harvard College, Harvard Divinity School, Harvard Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, Harvard GSAS, Special Students & Visiting Fellows, Harvard Graduate School of Design, Harvard Graduate School of Education, Harvard Kennedy School, Harvard Law School, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and Harvard Medical School (NON-CLINICAL).

Overview Immunization Documentation Practices Flu Vaccine Information

Overview

Harvard University Health Services (HUHS) is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for all students living, studying, and working on our campus. Immunization requirements for students are based on the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) regulations for school entry, as well as additional institutional requirements where appropriate for our campus community. 

Harvard follows the Commonwealth of Massachusetts immunization requirements for all students. In instances where national recommendations and Massachusetts law differ, Harvard will follow Massachusetts state law. 

  • To register for classes, you must comply with all vaccine requirements. Students can check their immunization compliance status on the HUHS Patient Portal. 
  • Preventive Vaccines: For students with the Student Health Insurance Plan, please find information on preventive vaccine coverage here. 
  • Harvard University Health Services (HUHS) no longer requires students to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. We strongly recommend that all members of the Harvard community stay up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccines, including boosters, if eligible. Additionally, we continue to emphasize the benefits of wearing a high-quality face mask in crowded indoor settings and remaining at home if unwell. 

Immunization Documentation Practices at HUHS

  • If you have received your vaccine outside of the United States, your documentation must be translated into English in order for us to update your record accurately.
  • Supporting vaccine documentation (medical records documenting the administration of your vaccine) must be uploaded to the HUHS Patient Portal.
  • If you receive vaccines from Harvard University Health Services, you do not need to submit the documentation. This documentation will automatically be added to your medical record within 24-48 business hours.
  • You are responsible for ensuring that you remain compliant with all the University’s immunization requirements by checking the HUHS Patient Portal and reading all communications from HUHS.
  • If you should fall out of compliance at any time for any of the required immunizations, registration holds will be automatically applied.

Seeking a Medical or Religious Exemption

Students seeking a medical or religious exemption for a required vaccine should complete the Student Vaccine Exemption Form and provide the required documentation. All documentation must be in English. 

Flu Vaccine Requirement Information & Flu Vaccine Documentation Submission

All students are required to receive an annual flu vaccination. 

  • For academic year 2026-2027, flu vaccines need to be obtained on or after 7/1/2026 to be compliant for the upcoming year. Noncompliance with the flu requirement will not impact your ability to register for classes for summer or fall 2026, but will impact your ability to enroll for spring 2027 courses. Plan on receiving and uploading your flu vaccination data as soon as possible after 8/1/2026. Your HUHS Patient Portal page will continue to show non-compliance for the flu vaccine until you are able to submit the documentation and it is reviewed by HUHS staff.
  • You may receive your flu vaccination at an HUHS-sponsored flu vaccine event, from your primary care provider, or from local retail pharmacies, including Walgreens and Rite Aid, which provide easy access to the flu vaccine. You must confirm coverage of the flu vaccine with your health insurance plan before receiving the vaccine outside of HUHS. Not all local retail pharmacies will be covered, and you may have out-of-pocket costs associated with the flu vaccine.

If you receive your flu vaccine outside of HUHS:

  • If you receive your flu vaccine or any other outstanding vaccination outside of HUHS, you will need to upload the documentation directly to the Patient Portal as soon as possible. Flu vaccine documentation should be uploaded to the Patient Portal under Medical Clearances, Immunization Record. All documentation must be in English.
  • If you are enrolled in Harvard’s Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP), please note that the flu vaccine is NOT covered when administered at CVS. 
  • Once uploaded, HUHS reviews your documentation for regulatory compliance. This review can take up to 10-15 business days from the time of your upload to  the HUHS Patient Portal. Plan accordingly when scheduling to receive your vaccines.