Since the spring, measles cases have been spreading rapidly through the United States. Measles is a highly contagious respiratory illness that spreads to others through coughing and sneezing. In particular, travel hubs and public transportation (airports, train stations) are places where measles can more easily spread.
While the situation is worrisome, measles is highly preventable with the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine. For context, about 94% of cases were among people who are unvaccinated or didn’t know their vaccine status. That’s why we’re encouraging you to help us stay prepared by sharing your vaccination records in MyUHS.
If a vaccine-preventable illness like measles occurred on campus, state public health laws require students to quarantine if we don’t have proof of immunity. If you’re living on campus, you could be asked to return home or find space outside the residence halls at your own expense.
Check your vaccination status
Many students received a series of 2 MMR vaccines when they were kids. The MMR vaccine is a common requirement for public schools because of the serious health effects of measles and how contagious it is. For every one person who gets measles, up to 18 unvaccinated people will become infected – That makes measles about 9 times more infectious than COVID-19. The MMR vaccine is highly effective in preventing measles and is our most important tool to prevent infection and further spread of the disease.
If you are from Wisconsin, you can check the Wisconsin Immunization Registry. If you are from another U.S. state, navigate to your state’s immunization website using this portal. You may also contact your primary care provider to obtain your records. If you haven’t received 2-doses of the MMR vaccine, you are highly recommended to get vaccinated. UHS provides MMR vaccines for a cost. Vaccines are also available at local Madison pharmacies.
Upload your record to MyUHS
Once you check your MMR vaccine status, please let UHS know by uploading your records to MyUHS. This is important because it helps our campus stay prepared as we continue to monitor infectious disease activity. In the event of an outbreak, we can then quickly identify students who are unvaccinated and at high risk for measles.
- Login to MyUHS
- Once logged in, go to Medical Clearances. Click Update next to Immunization Record. Upload a file that includes your records along with your full name and date of birth.
- Next, click Update next to Measles. Add Immunization under Vaccine History entering the Date and Immunization. Complete this process two times to reflect the full measles vaccination series.
After that, your vaccine records will be reviewed by UHS staff members. Please note: You will continue to see “Not Compliant” under Status and along with “Awaiting Review” under Details while your records are under review. This assures you that you have uploaded your records correctly. Your Status will update once the records are reviewed.