The Massachusetts code of regulations and Berklee College of Music require that all undergraduate and graduate students enrolled at Berklee’s campus in Boston provide documentation that they have been immunized against the illnesses listed below before attending class.
The first dose must be given on or after the first birthday, and the second dose must be given ≥28 days after the first dose; laboratory evidence of immunity is acceptable.
Tdap (Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis)
One dose
One dose of Tdap is required, and a history of a DTaP primary series or age-appropriate catch-up vaccination. Tdap given at ≥7 years may be counted, but a dose at age 11 or 12 is recommended if Tdap was given earlier as part of a catch-up schedule. Td or Tdap should be given if it has been ≥10 years since Tdap.
Varicella (Chickenpox)
Two doses
The first dose must be given on or after the first birthday, and the second dose must be given ≥28 days after the first dose; a reliable history of chickenpox or laboratory evidence of immunity is acceptable.
Hepatitis B
Three doses
Three doses of Hepatitis B are required; laboratory evidence of immunity is acceptable. Three dose series should be given on a 0-, 1-, and 6-month schedule. Two doses of Heplisav-B given on or after 18 years of age are acceptable.
One dose of MenACWY (formerly MCV4) is required for all full-time students 21 years of age or younger. The dose of the MenACWY vaccine must have been received on or after the student’s 16th birthday. Doses received at younger ages do not count towards this requirement. Students may decline the MenACWY vaccine after they have read and signed the Meningococcal Waiver Form. The Meningococcal B vaccine is not required and does not meet this requirement.
COVID-19
(Beginning fall 2021)
Varies depending on the type of vaccine
The Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, or Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen (J&J/Janssen) COVID-19 vaccine are acceptable. The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine and Moderna COVID-19 vaccine both need two shots in order to get the most protection. You only need one shot of the J&J COVID-19 vaccine to get the most protection. For those being vaccinated in the U.S., you must have received your second dose of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine, or the single dose of the J&J vaccine at least two weeks before arriving on campus.
Immunization (Vaccine) Information for Entering and Transfer Students
For students entering in the spring 2021 semester, the due date to submit your immunizations was December 1, 2020, and has been extended to February 17, 2021.
For students entering in the summer 2021 semester, the due date to submit your immunizations is April 1, 2021.
For students entering in the fall 2021 semester, the due date to submit your immunizations is August 1, 2021.
All entering students must submit a completed entering student immunization form to Magnus Health, Berklee's provider for collecting, managing, and tracking immunization information. Students should make sure they have received the required vaccines; it takes only one missing or expired dose to cause delays during check-in. Please note that you cannot attend Berklee College of Music or Boston Conservatory at Berklee until the immunization requirements are met.
You may retrieve an Entering Student Immunization Form and submit your immunization documentation online at secure.magnushealthportal.com.
Information About Your Magnus Health Account
All entering students should receive an email from Magnus Health to the email address connected to their application with information on how to access their Magnus Health account.
Please be aware that it may take up to a week from your admittance to the school for your Magnus Health account to be active.
COVID-19 Vaccine Information
Berklee will require all students to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before the start of the fall 2021 semester. For those being vaccinated in the U.S., this means you must have received your second dose of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine, or the single dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine at least two weeks before arriving on campus.
Please get vaccinated as soon as you can. The vaccines approved for emergency use in the United States have proven effective in reducing the spread and severity of COVID-19, and are becoming more accessible each day. At this time, more than a quarter of people in this country have been fully vaccinated, and more than 40 percent have received their first shot. Adults over the age of 16 are now eligible for the COVID-19 vaccines in all 50 U.S. states, plus Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. If you are in Massachusetts or the U.S. and have questions about how to sign up to get vaccinated, you can learn more at mass.gov/covid-19-vaccine or cdc.gov. You may also find it useful to visit sites such as CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, and local medical/community health centers to sign up for vaccine appointments as they become available.
For students who live outside of the United States and have access to a vaccine that is not on the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) list, we encourage you to consider getting vaccinated and to seek medical advice on the appropriateness and efficacy of available vaccines. We are determining how to manage situations for students whose vaccines are not approved by the United States. It is likely that vaccines comparable to those approved in the U.S. will meet our requirements, unless federal or local guidelines determine otherwise. We also hope that as vaccinations become more widely available, students who are unable to gain access to a vaccine may have the option to receive one upon arrival to the U.S. for the fall semester. We will keep you informed as our plans develop and more information is available.
Medical and Religious Exemptions
Like your other required vaccinations, you will need to provide proof of your COVID-19 vaccination. The same process for accommodating medical and religious exemptions for other required vaccinations will be in place for the COVID-19 vaccination. You may find a Medical or Religious Exemption from Vaccination and Immunization Form under the "Forms" drop-down tab.
If you are unable to submit your documentation online and need to mail or fax your immunization documentation, please call the Magnus Help Desk at 877-461-6831 or, for callers outside of the U.S., 919-502-7689. You may also contact Magnus Health by email at service@magnushealthportal.com to retrieve their fax number or mailing address.
Immunization Exemptions
Detailed information about medical and religious exemptions, as well as the meningococcal waiver, may be found on the entering student immunization form. You may retrieve a meningococcal waiver and submit your waiver online through the Magnus Health portal.
All religious and medical exemptions must be renewed and submitted annually to Magnus Health through their online portal.
Multi-Dose Immunization Series
We understand that due to the multiple doses required of some vaccines, students may not have fulfilled all immunization requirements by the deadline for their entering semester, listed in the box above. Students should submit documentation of what immunizations have been completed by the deadline for their entering semester, as listed above. As students continue to complete their immunization requirements, they should submit their updated documents to Magnus Health for a more efficient check-in process.
Getting Immunizations Near Campus
In most cases, the required immunizations can be received at pharmacies, however, you may also go to a hospital or doctor's office to receive immunizations for these diseases if you prefer. Immunizations are generally covered by insurance, but please check with your insurance carrier to confirm coverage.
All required immunizations, as well as the flu (influenza) shot, human papillomavirus (HPV) shot, and more, are available at the locations listed on our Health Care Near Campus page.
First Year Abroad Students
Please check the Accepted Students Valencia page for more information about immunization requirements for students studying for their first year at our campus in Valencia, Spain.
Former Summer Programs Participants
Students who have previously attended a summer program at Berklee College of Music or Boston Conservatory at Berklee and who are entering in the summer 2019 or later must submit new immunization documentation to Magnus Health.
Have Questions?
If you are an entering student and have questions about your immunizations or immunization requirements, please contact the Magnus Help Desk.
Magnus Help Desk Number: 877-461-6831, or for callers outside of the U.S.: 919-502-7689
Magnus Help Desk Email: service@magnushealthportal.com
Immunization (Vaccine) Information for Returning Students
Students returning to Berklee College of Music or Boston Conservatory at Berklee that entered in the spring of 2019 or earlier do not have an account with Magnus Health. For questions or inquires regarding your immunizations, please find the tab below that applies to you for more information on which office to contact.
Berklee College of Music Students Who Entered Fall 2017 or Earlier
Students who entered Berklee College of Music in the fall of 2017 or earlier should contact the Office of the Registrar at registrar@berklee.edu or 617-747-2240 with any questions or inquiries regarding their immunization records.
Berklee College of Music Students Who Entered Between Spring 2018 and Spring 2019
Students who entered Berklee College of Music between the spring of 2018 semester and the spring of 2019 semester should contact the Health and Wellness office at healthandwellness@berklee.edu or 617-747-6575 with any questions or inquiries regarding their immunization records.
Boston Conservatory at Berklee Students Who Entered Spring of 2019 or Earlier
Students who entered Boston Conservatory at Berklee in the spring of 2019 or earlier should contact the Health and Wellness office at healthandwellness@berklee.edu or 617-747-6575 with any questions or inquiries regarding your immunization records.
