School of Health Sciences Immunization Policy

PURPOSE 

Because of their contact with patients/clients or infectious materials, students and faculty in the School of Health Sciences are at risk for exposure to and possible transmission of vaccine-preventable diseases. Maintenance of immunity is therefore an essential part of prevention and infection control. The following defines the policy as it relates to immunizations for faculty and students.

POLICY

All faculty and students in the school who encounter medical patients and/or clients must document proof of the following immunizations:

  • Measles/Mumps/Rubella (MMR): two (2) vaccines or positive blood tests (titers)* showing immunity for measles, mumps, and rubella.
  • Varicella (chicken pox): two (2) or positive blood tests (titers)* showing immunity.
  • Tetanus/Diphtheria/Pertussis (Tdap): must provide proof of adult Tdap (after the age of 18) and either a TD or Tdap booster within ten (10) years.
  • Tuberculosis Screening:
    • Initially, a baseline TB test--2-step TB skin test or a TB blood test (QuantiFERON Gold® or T-Spot®), TB Risk Assessment Questionnaire, and TB training (within Passport)
    • Annually, a TB Risk Assessment Questionnaire and TB training (within Passport)
  • Annual Influenza (Flu) vaccination.
  • Hepatitis B Series: This series of three (3) vaccines is not required but strongly recommended. All faculty and students who choose to decline receiving the Hepatitis B Vaccine series must sign the Hepatitis B Immunization Waiver.
  • COVID-19: This vaccine(s) may be required by clinical affiliates, and is strongly recommended. Students must have completed the COVID vaccine series or obtained an exemption prior to clinical attendance. 
  • Animal Studies programs are not required but strongly recommended to have the pre-exposure rabies vaccine.
  • Students enrolled in Animal Studies are exempt from immunizations except for Tdap or when a clinical/externship site requires documentation of immunization.
  • Vaccines must remain current throughout the program of study.

*All exemptions must be approved by each clinical affiliate's exemption process(es). Some clinical sites do not permit exemptions of required vaccinations. The exemption process for medical and religious exemptions often differs. Exemptions must be obtained through each individual clinical site. Approval at one clinical site does not guarantee approval at other clinical sites. Students must be compliant with the clinical sites requirements in order to attend clinical.

*Students and faculty with documentation of negative or equivocal titers will be required to receive appropriate vaccine(s).

PROCEDURE

  1. Due dates for documentation will be determined by the program but should precede clinical placements and patient contact. 
  2. Documentation of vaccines are submitted to the designated administrative assistant and stored in the student's/faculty's health file in a secured location. The school may verify and release the immunization records to any clinical facility the student utilizes as well as to faculty/staff who may need access to the information for the normal operation of the program.  
  3. A medical exemption from vaccination may be requested based on guidelines from the Centers of Disease Control (CDC). Those CDC guidelines are published at Who Should Not Get Vaccinated with these Vaccines? Documentation from a physician will be required. Health exemption requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the clinical affiliate’s internal process(es). Written documentation of approved exemption must be submitted in lieu of proof of vaccine prior to course registration.
  4. A religious exemption from vaccination may be requested and reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the clinical affiliate's internal process(es). Written documentation of approved exemption must be submitted in lieu of proof of vaccine prior to course registration. Please note that all clinical facilities may not accommodate religious exemptions.
  5. Restrictions or limitations consistent with CDC suggestions or guidelines and those mandated by clinical agencies/externships may be required for those with approved health or religious exemptions. Example: Faculty or student learner may be required to wear a mask to class/clinical if exempt from flu vaccine.
  6. Those without an approved exemption, who fail to maintain current immunizations, or who with an approved exemption fail to comply with any applicable restrictions will not be allowed to participate in activities involving patient/client care. Failure to comply will result in disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment for faculty or the inability to progress through a program for students.
  7. Although faculty and students may receive approved exemptions from some clinical affiliates, participation in academic activities at clinical education centers and/or externships may not be permitted if an assigned clinical site does not permit/grant exemptions, according to signed affiliation agreements between the outside facilities and the college. Such circumstances may result in a change in faculty course assignments or the inability to progress through a program for students. Limited clinical site availability may result in a faculty or student not having an alternative option for clinical placement. If unvaccinated, this could interfere with faculty workload and/or student’s ability to progress through a program.