The following immunizations are required for underage students and healthcare programs:
| Vaccines |
Recommendations in brief |
| Hepatitis B |
If you don’t have documented evidence of a complete hepB vaccine series, or if you don’t have a blood test that shows you are immune to hepatitis B (i.e., no serologic evidence of immunity or prior vaccination) then you should:
Get a 3-dose series of Recombivax HB or Engerix-B (dose #1 now, #2 in 1 month, #3 approximately 5 months after #2) or a 2-dose series of Heplisav-B, with the doses separated by at least 4 weeks.
Get an anti-HBs serologic test 1-2 months after the final dose.
See Prevention of Hepatitis B Virus Infection in the United States: Recommendations of the ACIP. |
| Flu (Influenza) |
Get 1 dose of influenza vaccine annually. |
| |
|
| Tdap (Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis) |
Get a one-time dose of Tdap as soon as possible if you have not received Tdap previously (regardless of when previous dose of Td was received).
Get either a Td or Tdap booster shot every 10 years thereafter.
Pregnant HCWs need to get a dose of Tdap during each pregnancy. |
| Meningococcal |
Microbiologists who are routinely exposed to Neisseria meningitidis should get meningococcal conjugate vaccine and serogroup B meningococcal vaccine. |
| MMR (Measles, Mumps, & Rubella) |
If you were born in 1957 or later and have not had the MMR vaccine, or if you don’t have a blood test that shows you are immune to measles or mumps (i.e., no serologic evidence of immunity or prior vaccination), get 2 doses of MMR (1 dose now and the 2nd dose at least 28 days later). If you were born in 1957 or later and have not had the MMR vaccine, or if you don’t have a blood test that shows you are immune to rubella, only 1 dose of MMR is recommended. However, you may end up receiving 2 doses, because the rubella component is in the combination vaccine with measles and mumps. For HCWs born before 1957, see the MMR ACIP vaccine recommendations. |
| Varicella (Chickenpox) |
If you have not had chickenpox (varicella), if you haven’t had varicella vaccine, or if you don’t have a blood test that shows you are immune to varicella (i.e., no serologic evidence of immunity or prior vaccination) gets 2 doses of varicella vaccine, 4 weeks apart. |
*Table directly extracted from the CDC Recommended Vaccines for Healthcare Workers. *
*To learn more about these diseases and the benefits and potential risks associated with the vaccines, read the Vaccine Information Statements (VIS).*
Medical Students in the third and fourth year should have the Influenza vaccine before entering the clinical clerkships. Nursing and Psychology students should have the Influenza vaccine before entering to clinical sites.
Exemptions for Vaccination
The Puerto Rico Department of Health (Article 5 of Law 25 of September 25, 1983, as amended, better known as the Immunization Law for Preschool Children and Students) allows exemptions to the immunization requirements due to religious or health reasons, including catastrophic diseases and pregnancy. In these cases, the student must complete an Immunization Exemption Form that must be certified by a physician and/or attorney, depending on the reasons for exemptions.
No exemptions will be allowed in the Medical and Nursing Programs, these students must comply with the CDC regulations for health professionals.
Sanctions
Students applying for admissions must adhere to the immunization policy. Not complying with the immunization requirements may be cause for revoking an acceptance to a PHSU program.
All students who are not in compliance with the immunization’s requirements may be barred from participation in clinical activities at the discretion of each program Dean. Students with missing vaccination documents have the following options:
- Present titers of antibodies for the required vaccines. A student with negative titers is recommended to undergo immunizations.
- Students who decide not to undergo immunization due to religion, pregnancy or health reasons must present a notarized document certifying the above reasons for declining immunization. Students enrolling in healthcare programs must submit to the immunizations requirements and will not be able to continue in the program unless they present the required evidence. PHSU will not be responsible for the denial of access to clinical centers, internships, practices, and other activities regulated by third parties, especially if compliance with immunization requirements is part of the policies of said institution. The student is responsible for complying with all PHSU institutional policies and all the policies of the clinical and practicum sites.
Students in non-compliance will be submitted to the sanctions described in this policy and may be submitted to additional sanctions as described in the Student Policy Manual.
|