Immunizations & Insurance, Medical Technology in the Medical School at the University of Minnesota

Academic Health Center Immunization Policy

All students in the University of Minnesota Academic Health Center (AHC) schools and programs are required to have immunizations and/or tests as a condition of enrollment. Students in the School of Dentistry, School of Nursing, Medical School, School of Medicine-Duluth, College of Pharmacy, School of Public Health, and the Dental Hygiene, Mortuary Science, Medical Technology, Occupational Therapy, and Physical Therapy programs must meet this University of Minnesota Board of Regents requirement. Expectations for health professions students are consistent with those of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and Minnesota state law for health care workers. First year students are expected to have this requirement completed prior to entering AHC programs. Information can be accessed at www.ahc.umn.edu/immunizations. We recommend that you start obtaining immunization documentation in preparation to applying (one year prior to enrollment). If you are accepted into the program and have not completed the immunization documentation, you will NOT be allowed to register for classes.
Documented Tests and Immunizations

1. Hepatitis B. Document three doses of the vaccine or antibody titre (blood test) results documenting immunity. Note: The Hepatitis B series takes four to six months to complete; therefore, if you have not had this series, you should begin this process as soon as possible to comply with this requirement.
2. Varicella (Chicken Pox). Document two doses of the vaccine or a self-reported history of the disease. If you are unsure whether or not you have had varicella, you may submit antibody titre results documenting immunity or proof of two immunizations.
3. Measles (Rubeola). Document two doses after age 12 months or antibody titre results documenting immunity.
4. Mumps. Document one to two doses after age 12 months or antibody titre results documenting immunity.
5. Rubella (German Measles). Document one to two doses after age 12 months or antibody titre results documenting immunity.
6. Tetanus/Diphtheria. Document most current dose within the last ten years.
7. A two-step Mantoux (PPD) test. Documentation of the two-step Mantoux test.

a. This test involves placement of a purified protein derivative (PPD) to test for tuberculosis. It must be read 48-72 hours after placement, and the area of induration recorded. The AHC requires a second PPD test to be performed two weeks after the first test. This two-step Mantoux test needs to be done once.
b. Annual Mantoux test. Documentation of an annual Mantoux. If you have had a two-step Mantoux more than one year ago, you should have a standard Mantoux test. Annual Mantoux tests are required each year you are in your program.
8. Chest x-ray if you have had a positive Mantoux. If you have had a positive Mantoux test, your documentation must include the results of your follow-up chest x-ray. Once this documentation is submitted, yearly Mantoux testing is not required.
We understand that many students have not had a two-step Mantoux test before. To understand this requirement for health care workers, you can refer to the immunization website (www.ahc.umn.edu/immunizations) and read the section "Why a Two-Step Mantoux?" Currently, 5% of AHC students are testing positive on the two-step Mantoux and require health consultation.
Students born before 1957 are not exempt from this policy. The CDC guidelines (www.cdc.gov/nip) for health care workers are more rigorous than many state requirements for the general student population
Student fees do not cover required immunizations. It is in your best interest to secure appropriate documentation from a health care provider rather than repeating immunizations or repeating an antibody. If you are a registered student, annual Mantoux tests, titres, chest x-rays, and Tetanus/Diphtheria vaccinations are covered by your student fees after billing your insurance, and confirmation of your insurance status has been received.
Several of the schools/colleges in the AHC make arrangements with Boynton for on-site Mantoux testing and reading as part of orientation and again two weeks later. You will receive information from your school's student services office if this is the case in your program.
Process required to obtain documentation

Take the Immunization Form (www.ahc.umn.edu/immunizationform) to your health care provider to complete. A health care provider is defined as a physician (MD and DO), nurse practitioner, physician's assistant, and registered nurse. Often the information is coming from multiple providers. In these cases, a separate Immunization From for each provider is the preferred way to turn in the documentation. Some students may have difficulty finding their medical records; in these cases, a titre must be drawn to document immunity.
Note: Do not forward your completed Immunization Form to Boynton Health Service until you have received notification of your acceptance into one of the AHC programs. It is highly recommended that you keep a copy of all documentation sent to Boynton Health Service.

Boynton staff will review the form and verify whether your immunizations and documentation on the form meet the Board of Regents policy. Your immunization information will become part of your confidential Boynton Health Service medical record. Note: review and verification of your immunizations and form will take Boynton staff approximately two to five days to process. Turning in a form does not indicate that you are in compliance with the requirement. You must be notified your immunizations have been verified and that you have completed the requirement.

If you have completed all requirements, you and your school/college will be notified by email of your status. Your school/college will allow you to enroll in classes and clerkships.

If you have not completed all requirements, your school/college will not allow you to enroll in your classes and rotations. Boynton Health Service will notify you by email of which requirements are unfulfilled and how to complete them.

Your school/college will not be notified of your clearance to enroll until you have completed all requirements and have received confirmation from Boynton. Note: verification of your immunizations and form will take Boynton staff approximately two to five days to process.
As future health professionals, you need to understand infection control for the safety of you and your patients.

Written documentation is needed with a nurse or doctor's signature (include the clinic site).

Health Insurance Coverage
It is expected that AHC students carry health insurance coverage to cover emergency medical situations. It is recommended that the AHC students carry the Blue Cross/Blue Shield student insurance policy because of its scope of coverage, or other personal, spousal, or parental policy that is equivalent to the current student insurance. Each AHC student should carry insurance information at all times on clinical and community educational rotations to have available in emergency situations.

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Last modified on Thursday Jun 30, 2005

This page is located at http://www.med.umn.edu//medtech/admission/immunizations.html