Pre-matriculation requirements for colleges and universities: Is it time for all states to mandate as a condition of entry?

Pre-matriculation requirements for colleges and universities: Is it time for all states to mandate PIRs as a condition of entry for students?

Background: Several key groups have issued calls for higher education institutions to implement scheduled immunization protocols as a pre-matriculation requirement (PIR) for their student populations. Despite demonstrated increased risk burden of infectious disease for college populations and available and effective immunization interventions, not all states have mandated PIRs as a condition of entry.

Significance: Comprised of highly mobile representatives from diverse states and countries, post secondary student populations are presented with a disproportionately high risk of contracting many infectious diseases. State level PIR mandated protocols can lessen this risk.

Purpose: To demonstrate state authority to develop and implement PIRs as a mandatory condition of entry for students into post secondary institutions.

Methodology: A determination of state government authority to mandate PIRs and the extent and coverage of present state level PIR mandates was undertaken. The study was enriched through qualitative data collected through key informant interviews with campus health services administrators to better understand compliance levels.

Findings: Through exercise of their police power authority, all state governments have the ability to implement public health interventions. Yet despite demonstrated need, the existence of effective interventions, and evidence based immunization protocol recommendations, many states do not mandate PIRs. For those that do, significant variance exists regarding PIR requirements and compliance.

Conclusion: All states should consider developing and implementing a unified and coordinated PIR mandate under color of police power authority.