Immunization Policy
Following recommendations for the Immunization for Health-Care Workers issued by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and the Hospital Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and to comply with clinical facilities’ requirements, all Florida National University students who are pursuing a program that requires a clinical rotation or externship (Medical Assistant, Respiratory Therapy, Radiologic Technology, Diagnostic Medical Ultrasound, Physician Assistant, Physical Therapist Assistant, and certain Nursing programs) must have the following vaccines, which must be up-to-date and administered according to the schedules noted below, before beginning their rotation or externship in a clinical facility:
| Vaccines/Tests |
Requirements |
| Hepatitis B |
If you do not have documented evidence of a complete HepB vaccine series, or if you do not have an up-to-date blood test that shows you are immune to hepatitis B (i.e., no serologic evidence of immunity or prior vaccination), then you must:
Get a 3-dose series of the vaccine available: dose #1 now, #2 in 1 month, #3 approximately 5 months after #2. |
| Flu (Influenza) |
Get 1 dose of influenza vaccine annually during Flu outbreak: October 1st to March 30th of each year. |
| MMR (Measles, Mumps, & Rubella) |
If you were born before 1957 and there is no immunity for measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) (i.e., no serologic evidence of immunity), the student must 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 do not have an up-to-date blood test that shows, you are immune to rubella, only 1 dose of MMR is recommended. |
| Varicella (Chickenpox) |
If you have not had chickenpox (varicella), if you have not had varicella vaccine, or if you do not have an up-to-date blood test that shows you are immune to varicella (i.e., no serologic evidence of immunity or prior vaccination), get 2 doses of varicella vaccine, 4 weeks apart. |
| 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 Tdap boosters every 10 years thereafter. |
| Tuberculosis (TB) |
Get PPD skin tests as described below.
The PPD skin test is a method used to determine if someone has developed an immune response to the bacterium that causes tuberculosis (TB). PPD stands for purified protein derivative.
The PPD test must be repeated every 6 months.
QuantiFERON tuberculosis test is an alternative to the PPD. QuantiFERON is simply a blood test approved to diagnose latent or active tuberculosis in a patient.
Certain people should be tested for TB infection because they are at higher risk for being infected with TB bacteria, including:
- People who have spent time with someone who has TB disease
- People from a country where TB disease is common (most countries in Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, and Russia)
- People who live or work in high-risk settings (for example: correctional facilities, long-term care facilities or nursing homes, and homeless shelters)
- Health-care workers who care for patients at increased risk for TB disease
- Infants, children, and adolescents exposed to adults who are at increased risk for latent tuberculosis infection or TB disease |
Immunization Timing and Submission Requirements
Compliance with the immunization policy described above must be demonstrated at the time of completing the clinical documentation package to be submitted to the clinical facility. Students must also demonstrate that the Flu vaccine was received during each annual Flu season as noted above. Additional information, including due dates, will be provided by the Director of Clinical Education or appropriate Program Director.
All immunization records must be submitted to the Director of Clinical Education or appropriate Program Director as advised and by the specified due date.
Failure to comply with these immunization requirements will prevent students from being accepted or continuing in a clinical rotation or externship and graduating from their program.
Additional Clinical Facility Immunization Requirements
Immunization requirements are established in part by the University’s affiliated clinical facilities. The immunization requirements listed above may be modified or expanded if required by the clinical facility at which a student will complete their rotation or externship. If so, additional information will be provided by the Director of Clinical Education or the appropriate Program Director.