Student Health Requirements

What you’ll need

Immunization regulations for the State of Illinois require new students at Rush University born after Jan. 1, 1957 to show proof of immunity to measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, tetanus and meningococcal conjugate, and all new admissions under the age of 22 shall show proof of having at least one dose of the vaccine on or after 16 years of age. In addition, your college may have other specific immunization and health requirements for which you are accountable regardless of your age. Please check with your respective college regarding specific requirements.

• COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement: Students participating in onsite activities must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19, or must request a medical or religious exemption.

Please note: A new vaccine policy went into effect on October 24, 2022. 
View the Rush University vaccine policy

• Influenza Vaccination Requirement: Students must also show proof of vaccination for influenza, or must request a medical or religious exemption. For more information, please review Rush Personnel Influenza Immunization Plan.

Rush University requires students enrolled for Spring 2023 to submit proof of vaccination for COVID-19 and Influenza by the first day of the term on Tuesday, January 3, 2023.  The noncompliance process of the COVID-19 Policy will take effect and registration holds may be applied for any student not in compliance with the vaccine requirements.

*Note: Please use the Student_Health@rush.edu email when sending private health-related information using your official Rush.edu email account for privacy and confidentiality.

Submitting your documentation

College of Nursing 

Students (including Students at Large) are required to upload proof of both COVID-19 and Influenza vaccination records into the EXXAT System. For exemptions, please review the required criteria needed to submit either a medical or religious exemption via your EXXAT account. Your exemption request will be reviewed by EXXAT.

Graduate College

COVID-19 Vaccine Requirement: Students (including Students at Large) are required to upload proof of COVID-19 vaccination records into CastleBranch.

Influenza Vaccine Requirement: If you receive your Influenza vaccination within the Rush System, no additional Influenza documentation is needed. If you receive your Influenza vaccination outside of the Rush System, you are required to submit your vaccination record to Student_Health@rush.edu.

• COVID-19 and Influenza Exemption Requests: Please submit your exemption request through the Student Immunization Exemption form. If you are a Rush University Student and a Rush Employee, please reach out to Student_Health@rush.edu with instructions on how to submit your exemption request. For exemptions for either the COVID-19 and/or Influenza vaccination, please review the required criteria needed to submit either a medical or religious exemption. Your exemption request will be reviewed by either Rush University Student Health or Rush Employee and Corporate Health Services.

College of Health Sciences

Please see below for program specific details on where to submit proof of both COVID-19 and Influenza vaccination records or request for a medical or religious exemption:

Students at Large (SAL): Students at Large are required to submit proof of both COVID-19 and Influenza vaccination records to Student_Health@rush.edu.

• COVID-19 and Influenza Exemption Requests: Please submit your exemption request through the Student Immunization Exemption form. If you are a Rush University Student and a Rush Employee, please reach out to Student_Health@rush.edu with instructions on how to submit your exemption request. For exemptions for either the COVID-19 and/or Influenza vaccination, please review the required criteria needed to submit either a medical or religious exemption. Your exemption request will be reviewed by either Rush University Student Health or Rush Employee and Corporate Health Services.

All other CHS programs: Students are required to upload proof of both COVID-19 and Influenza vaccination records into CastleBranch. For exemptions, please review the required criteria needed to submit either a medical or religious exemption via your CastleBranch account. Your exemption request will be reviewed by CastleBranch.

Online Only Program: PhD in Health Sciences, Clinical Laboratory Management, Specialist in Blood Bank Technology, and Master of Science in Clinical Nutrition (CN.MS) are not required to submit FLU/COVID documentation or exemptions.

Rush Medical College

Student vaccination records will be kept through Lifetime Medical Associates and entered directly into Epic. Student questions are to be directed to Lifetime Medical Associates at (312) 942-8000 or email Mary_Nicholas@rush.edu.

• COVID-19 and Influenza Exemption Requests: Please submit your exemption request through the Student Immunization Exemption form. If you are a Rush University Student and a Rush Employee, please reach out to Student_Health@rush.edu with instructions on how to submit your exemption request. For exemptions for either the COVID-19 and/or Influenza vaccination, please review the required criteria needed to submit either a medical or religious exemption. Your exemption request will be reviewed by either Rush University Student Health or Rush Employee and Corporate Health Services.