This policy establishes guidelines for the immunization requirements by program, based on the CDC and the Puerto Rico Department of Health guidelines. This policy applies to all PHSU students.
Ponce Health Sciences University (PHSU) adheres to the CDC norms on adult and health care worker’s immunization and to the Puerto Rico Law of Immunizations, Law # 25, approved on September 25, 1983.
Immunization requirements may vary according to the student program and based on the recommendations of the Centers of Disease Control (CDC) and the State Health Department of Puerto Rico. Students 21 years and older are exempt from presenting the PVAC-3 form, instead these will present evidence of Hep B immunization. Medical Education and Nursing students must present the PVAC-3, titters or other immunization evidence regardless of the age.
International and Mainland students must present the evidence of immunization expedited in their country of origin to the PR Department of Health to obtain the PVAC-3 form.
Only for Medicine and Nursing Programs- Actively enrolled students in the Doctor in Medicine and the Nursing programs must present an annual Health Certificate during the Fall Enrollment
Vaccines Guideline
The following immunizations are required for underage students and healthcare programs:
In addition, students must present evidence of Covid-19 Vaccinations.
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 are 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 describe in this policy and may be submitted to additional sanctions as described in the Student Handbook.
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