MSU students who don't report their vaccination history to Olin Health Center won't be able to register for fall semester classes.

Olin Health Center will begin tracking undergraduate students who haven't completed Olin's online Immunization Self-Report by the end of the month to let them know they won't be able to register for classes, university officials said Thursday. Once the forms are submitted, students will be able to register for classes.

"We're sending out very clear information about vaccinations and ask that they acknowledge that they received it," university physician Beth Alexander said.

The form asks students to review their immunization status and consider getting the recommended vaccines for hepatitis B, varicella (chickenpox), tetanus/diphtheria and meningococcus.

But vaccination isn't required.

"We're not forcing anyone to get a shot, just like we don't force anyone to diet or stop smoking," Alexander said.

To ensure registry, students are required to return the form indicating which vaccinations they've received. Students who don't want to disclose their vaccination history can fill out a separate form in response.

The information is kept confidential and will be used in the event of a disease outbreak, Alexander said.

"It allows us to track down students in classes who might have been exposed to chickenpox or meningitis," she said. "That way we only have to contact five or 10 students instead of 300."

Since 1996, there have been six cases of meningitis on campus, three resulting in death.

The Web site also is useful to students traveling abroad who need medical attention and forgot what vaccinations they have, Alexander said.

Alexander said while she expects a few unhappy students in the next few months, the registration ban can be easily reversed.

"Just take five minutes and fill out the form," she said.

MSU isn't the only school taking measures to better track immunization on campus.

Early this week, about 300 students were denied access to Penn State University residence halls and cafeterias because they failed to follow a new state meningitis law. As of Thursday, 200 students had not submitted forms.

The Pennsylvania law requires students living on college campuses to receive meningitis vaccinations or sign a consent form saying they understand the risk of the disease. MSU instrumental music senior Adam Busuttil, who survived a bout with the Y strain of bacterial meningitis in 1999, lobbied the Michigan Legislature to pass a mandatory vaccination law, but the bill was revised by the state House. In 2001, the Legislature passed a law that requires colleges and universities to provide information to students about vaccinations.

The students received plenty of notice, said Penn State spokesman Tysen Kendig, including mailings, e-mails and door-to-door visits.

"I don't know that we can do anything to make it more clear," he said. "We just want every student to be educated about the disease."

But some MSU officials say Penn State's policy is too strict.

"We want to treat students with a lot of respect and regard and not be heavy handed," said Alexander. "We don't want to be the health police. We want to keep students as healthy as possible in ways that are not obtrusive."

Obtrusive or not, immunizations are important on all college campuses, said Geralyn Lasher, spokeswoman for the state Department of Community Health.

"There are close contacts and living quarters and that's where things like these spread," she said.

Lasher said while immunizations are strongly recommended, but the final decision is up to the student.

The Immunization Self-Report is available on the Web at www.immunize.msu.edu.

Kendra Snyder can be reached at snyderk6@msu.edu.