WSU Health Sciences Immunization Requirements

Policy

In accordance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), recommendations for immunizations for health care workers including students/trainees, and to comply with training site vaccination and health screening requirements, WSU Health Sciences programs with a clinical experiential learning requirement must be vaccinated or show evidence of immunity for the following:

• COVID-19
  • Boosters may be required based on agency requirements.
• Hepatitis B
  • Proof of immunity and of proof of vaccination.
• Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR)
  • Proof of immunity by titer may be accepted in lieu of proof of vaccination.
• Tdap (Tetanus, Diphteria, Pertusis)
• Tuberculosis screening
  • There are no exemptions for TB screening.
• Varicella
  • Proof of immunity by titer may be accepted in lieu of proof of vaccination.
• Influenza (annually)

WSU Health Sciences reserves the right to require additional immunizations in the event of a public health emergency, updated recommendations by the CDC for vaccination and/or health screenings, and/or training site placement requirements.

Procedure

Each WSU Health Sciences program that admits a student with a clinical experience academic requirement does so on the condition they are fully vaccinated and have completed all required health screenings. Each student is responsible for submitting appropriate medical documentation evidencing vaccination and completing their health screening prior to engagement in any clinical experience. All such documentation must be submitted in accordance with each applicable Health Sciences program requirements including information systems that maintain immunization and health screening information (e.g., CastleBranch). Failure to comply with vaccination and health screening requirements can result in decertification from the program. Existing students in the professional program will be required to follow existing WSU and CPPS vaccination policies.

Students applying for a medical exemption must complete this prior to the start of the academic year in which they have been conditionally admitted. To request a medical exemption requires submission of appropriate documentation from a qualified and licensed health care provider establishing a vaccination is contraindicated due to an underlying medical condition. Students should submit exemption materials to Cougar Health. If the submitted documentation supports a medical exemption, each program will admit the student and allow progression so long as they can reasonably accommodate the student. To the extent such action will cause a direct threat or undue hardship, the program shall deny the student admission.

Students receiving an approved accommodation are not guaranteed a clinical placement, which is a requirement for degree completion. Accommodated individuals must comply with the terms and conditions of the accommodation which may include use of Personal Protective Equipment, donning appropriate masks, and periodic testing/screening. Failure to follow an approved accommodation may subject the student to appropriate corrective action up to and including termination or revocation of the accommodation. A terminated or revoked accommodation may result in the student being referred to the applicable student progress committee for a professionalism violation and/or other reasonable corrective action.

Non-Compliance

Students who do not comply with WSU Health Sciences vaccine or health screening requirements shall not be admitted into or will be decertified from the applicable education program. If there is an ongoing vaccination (e.g., influenza) or health screening requirement, students who are non-compliant will not be able to matriculate in their program or will immediately be removed from a clinical rotation.

Submission of Information; Falsification of Records

Students submitting vaccination and health screening information, or requesting a medical exemption are required to follow WSU Health Sciences policies and procedures for submitting this information. Failure to comply with these timelines and processes may result in delay or denial of admission to the applicable program. WSU reserves the right to request additional or supporting documentation and information from a student. False, misleading, or inaccurate information submitted pursuant to this policy may result in, among other things, a referral to Center for Community Standards for appropriate investigation and/or discipline. Similarly, submission of false or inaccurate information may be a violation of the law and may result in a referral to appropriate law enforcement agencies or professional licensing boards.

References

1. See e.g., Washington Hospital Licensing Regulations, WAC 246-320-156(6) (requiring “Complete tuberculosis screening for new and current employees consistent with the Guidelines for Preventing the Transmission of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis in Healthcare Facilities, 2005. Morbidity Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) Vol. 54, December 30, 2005”); WAC 296-823-13005 (requiring making hepatitis B vaccination series available to all employees who have occupational exposure unless certain conditions met such as previous vaccination series, immune through antibody testing or medically contraindicated).

2. See Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Vaccination Recommendations for Healthcare Workers.