Health Sciences Required Immunizations

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Checklist of required immunizations

All immunizations listed below are mandatory and must be obtained at the applicant’s expense. Use this checklist to prepare your documentation of immunizations. Once accepted into the program, you will be required to submit your documentation online to a verification company. The deadline for submission will be provided by your program.

Exemption Note: Students may qualify for exemptions as allowed by Texas and federal law. However, healthcare facilities may deny participation in training or patient care based on their policies, even if a student is exempt. This could delay or prevent clinical site placement.

TB Test

  • Date of vaccine must be good within a year (must be valid throughout your entire program)
  • Accepted TB tests:
    • TB skin test (with a negative result)
      • If positive, then complete Tspot or Quantiferon Gold
    • T-Spot (with a negative result)
      • If positive, get an x-ray
    • Quantiferon Gold (with a negative result)
      • If positive, get an x-ray
    • X-ray (negative chest x-ray)
      • Valid for three years
      • Must upload the radiology report
      • Must complete an annual TB questionnaire
    • If you have received the BCG vaccination, then you must follow x-ray protocol or get a T-spot (with a negative result).

TDAP (Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis)

  • Date of the vaccine must be within 10 years.
  • Must have the combo vaccine that contains all 3 vaccines.
  • May appear on immunization history as TDAP or DTAP.

MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella)

  • Option A: 2 vaccines (that are at least 4 weeks apart)
  • Option B: A positive titer/serologic test for measles, mumps, and rubella
    • Must be a quantitative test
    • If your titer test is negative, you must get booster vaccines following the test.

Varicella

  • Option A: 2 vaccines, a minimum of 4 weeks apart
    • May appear on immunization history as VAR or MMRV.
  • Option B: A positive titer/serologic test for Varicella
    • Must be a quantitative test
    • If your titer test is negative, you must get booster vaccines following the test.

Meningitis

Influenza

  • 1 vaccine within a year
    • Must be within the current flu season

COVID Vaccine

  • Per Clinical Facility requirements

Physical

  • A physical exam is required once accepted into the program or as directed by the program.

Hepatitis B Titer test

  • A positive titer/serologic test for Hepatitis B
    • Must be a quantitative test
    • If your titer test is negative, you must get booster vaccines/repeat series following the test.
  • *If you never had the Hepatitis B vaccination, see Hepatitis B Flowchart

Hepatitis B Flowchart

*Hepatitis B Series Options

Option A: 3-dose series Hepatitis B (Energix B, Recombivax HB). Doses received at 0, 1, 6 months.

Option B: 2-dose series Hepatitis B (Heplisav B). Doses received at least 4 weeks apart.

Option C: 3-dose series Hepatitis A – Hepatitis B (Twinrix). Doses received at 0, 1, and 6 months.

Once the series is completed, a new Hepatitis B titer/serologic test must be taken.

Definitions:

  • Titer/Serologic test: a test where blood is drawn to test the antibody levels in your system.
    • A positive result means that you have the correct number of antibodies in your system for the tested immunization.
    • A negative result means that you do not have the correct number of antibodies in your system.
  • Quantitative test: a test that shows numerical values.
  • Reference range: acts as a key to determine what the values of your quantitative titer/serologic test results mean.
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