Immunization

Additional Immunization requirements for Nursing and Allied Health Students

In addition to the Immunization and Medical Record requirements for ALL students, those enrolled in any Nursing and Allied Health program are required to have a history and physical report which is to be completed only on the BCC approved health and physical form and submitted prior to beginning classes or clinical rotations.

Immunization information (not medical history) for all Nursing and Allied Health students may be shared with the Dean of Nursing, Health and Social Sciences, Department Chair and contracted agencies to allow for clinical experiences.

Please be advised that students enrolled in certain Health and Behavioral Sciences programs which require clinical or fieldwork study may be required by the placement affiliate agency to undergo and pass a drug screening analysis in order to be eligible. Students who either fail to pass, or refuse to submit to a drug screening analysis will be deemed ineligible for clinical placement, which may affect their status in the program.

Please direct any questions pertaining to this policy to the office of the Dean of Nursing, Health & Social Sciences.

The regulations for each vaccine preventable disease are described below:

Hepatitis B	a series of 3 injections of vaccine given over a 6 month period Please note: If there is an interruption in the schedule, the series should not be started again. Continue with the series until all three doses have been administered. If there is a question of immunity, have a titer blood test drawn one month after the final vaccine has been administered. Nursing and Allied Health students must begin the Hepatitis B series at least six months before the start of 39 clinical rotations since these programs are under obligation of a contracted agency to provide proof of the student inoculation.
Tetanus diphtheria (Td)	vaccine must be administered within the last 5 years for tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis (Tdap) the vaccine must be administered within the last 10 years.
Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR)	2 doses of vaccine given at least 1 month apart, at/after 12 months of age.
Tuberculosis (TB)	Annual test for all Nursing and Allied Health program students as well as for any incoming foreign-born student. TB tests require a reading done 48 to 72 hours after the test has been administered. If the test is not read 72 hours later, the student must redo the test. Please note:if an MMR inoculation has been administered within the last 6 weeks, a student must wait to have TB testing done as the test could result in a false positive. A TB test can be performed first without a waiting period. If a tuberculosis test result is positive, a negative chest x-ray is required. Negative chest x-rays are acceptable within the last 5 year period. If the chest x-ray is positive, a treatment schedule must accompany the result.
Varicella (chicken pox)	2 doses of vaccine - OR medical proof of disease or a positive laboratory blood test (titer)

Note: BCC is required to maintain immunization records for Tdap/Td, MMR , hepatitis B and vericella on all full-time (12 credits or more) students, all Nursing/Allied Health students (regardless of the number of credits,) and all foreign-born students (regardless of number of credits). A reminder will be sent to the student from the Immunization and Medical Records Office if any series is not complete.

These vaccines may only be declined for medical or religious reasons. In the event a student declines due to religious reasons, the student must complete and file the necessary forms, which may be obtained at the Immunization and Medical Records Office. If a student is unable to receive an immunization due to medical reasons, documentation from the student's physician must be filed in the Immunization and Medical Records Office. It is also highly recommended that these students have blood testing done to show possible immunity.

If an outbreak of measles, mumps or rubella occurs, students who are not immunized will be notified by the Immunization and Medical Records Office via telephone and/or certified mail. It is then the responsibility of the student to determine whether or not to attend classes. It is advised that students update telephone numbers and addresses to assure proper notification.