Policy Number: 1340
Date Approved: 06/23/2025
Executive Responsibility: Executive Committee
References: LCME Element 12.7; WSU Environmental Health and Safety Trainings; BSOM Medical Student Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens Policy; WSU Required Immunizations
1340.1 Background
By virtue of working in a clinical setting, medical students are at increased risk of acquiring infectious diseases from and/or spreading infectious diseases to patients, other health care workers, and the larger community. Many of these infections are preventable or minimizable by vaccination or standard infection control measures. For these reasons, mandatory procedures and vaccinations must be met by all Boonshoft School of Medicine (BSOM) MD program students before they may participate in any BSOM-affiliated clinical program or activity, including ones during Foundations phase, unless a medical or religious exemption has been approved. This requirement is in accordance with LCME Element 12.7:
“A medical school follows accepted guidelines in determining immunization requirements for its medical students and monitors students’ compliance with those requirements.”
1340.2 Policy
Each BSOM MD program student must submit a verifiable, up-to-date vaccination record and/or a valid request for a medical or religious exemption from one or more of the required vaccinations prior to June 30th of each academic year. Pending requests do not act as temporary exemptions.
All vaccination documentation mandated by BSOM must be submitted through Castlebranch, Inc. Failure to submit required documentation by June 30th may result in removal of the student from all academic activities (pre-clinical coursework and clinical rotations) until required health records and/or vaccination records are submitted and verified through Castlebranch (or a valid exemption is approved).
Submission information for incoming students is available on the Checklist for Accepted Students website.
Vaccination requirements are outlined in this policy and in Castlebranch. BSOM vaccination requirements are based on recommendations from our local infection control partners, as well as the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) for vaccinations of health care personnel. The AAMC Standardized Immunization Form is available to BSOM students looking for standardized documentation of vaccinations for their own records, but does not outline our vaccination requirements nor fulfill our mandated submission through Castlebranch. Each student’s record is reviewed by Castlebranch and further action may be needed for follow-up testing or information. At no time do BSOM staff/faculty have access to private medical information uploaded into Castlebranch. All BSOM monitoring for compliance is based on Castlebranch’s binary delineation of compliant vs. non-compliant.
1340.3 Prevention
Integral to promoting a safe and healthy campus, Wright State University’s (WSU) Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Office offers occupational and environmental training to WSU employees and students. EHS has over 100 training topics available for the WSU community.
Bloodborne pathogens are infectious microorganisms in human blood that can cause disease in humans. These pathogens include, but are not limited to, hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C (HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Needlesticks, sharps-related injuries, and other contact with bodily fluids may expose students to bloodborne pathogens. Read the BSOM Medical Student Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens policy.
Student Health Services works to help students avoid medical problems that are preventable, correct medical problems that can be treated, and assist in managing medical problems that are life-long. By adhering to BSOM policy requirements and procedures, Student Health Services helps students meet these goals.
1340.4 Required Immunizations
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis (TB) is a highly infectious disease, spread through the air when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks, releasing droplets containing the bacteria. Although tuberculosis can generally be prevented by proper infection control, transmission in health care settings can occur. Upon entering medical school, students are required to submit documentation of a negative TB test. Acceptable labs for this purpose include:
- QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus,
- T-spot, or
- Two step tuberculin skin tests (TSTs) or purified protein derivative (PPD) tests.
One of these must be obtained within six months of arriving at BSOM. After matriculation, students are expected to upload an annual screening for tuberculosis in order to progress in the curriculum.
If at any time a student’s annual screening results are positive, the following process must be followed:
- Inform the Academics Coordinator in the Office of Student Affairs.
- Follow up with your healthcare provider within 48 hours to discuss your test results and determine the next steps (such as obtaining a Chest Xray).
- Consider treatment. A Chest Xray will help differentiate active from latent TB, and treatment may be recommended based on those results.
- Follow infection control measures. If you are diagnosed with active TB, you will need to follow infection control measures to prevent spreading the infection to others. Contact the Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Admissions immediately to discuss exact measures.
Varicella (Chickenpox)
Students are required to have a quantitative varicella titer. If serologic result shows no immunity, vaccination followed by a repeat titer 6-8 weeks later.
Rubella (German measles)
Students are required to have a quantitative rubella titer. If serologic result shows no immunity, vaccination followed by a repeat titer 6-8 weeks later.
Rubeola (Measles)
Students are required to have a quantitative rubeola titer. If serologic result shows no immunity, vaccination followed by a repeat titer 6-8 weeks later.
Mumps
Students are required to have a quantitative mumps titer. If serologic result shows no immunity, vaccination followed by a repeat titer 6-8 weeks later.
Hepatitis B Vaccine
Students are required to have a full vaccination series (either a two-dose series or a three-dose series), and a quantitative hepatitis B surface antibody titer demonstrating immunity. If documentation of the vaccination series is not available, a positive surface antibody titer AND a negative surface antigen is acceptable. If immunity is not demonstrated, a repeat complete hepatitis B vaccination series is required (either a two-dose series or a three-dose series), followed by a repeat titer 6-8 weeks later. Students who complete two documented vaccine series and still do not demonstrate immunity 6-8 weeks later will be considered “non-responders.” Hepatitis B vaccine “non-responders” are at risk for being infected and should take extra precaution to avoid exposure to hepatitis B. These students should seek immediate medical care to receive a dose of hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) if they have been exposed to potentially infected blood. More information regarding non-responders can be found on the Hepatitis B Foundation's website.
Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis
The Tetanus-Diphtheria-Pertussis (Tdap) booster is required and must be received within 5 years of matriculating to BSOM.
Influenza
Influenza vaccination is required annually and is received no later than October 31 of each year of medical school. Failure to submit required documentation by October 31 each year may result in removal of the student from all activities (pre-clinical coursework and clinical rotations) until proof of vaccination is submitted and verified through Castlebranch (or a valid exemption is approved).
COVID-19
BSOM students are no longer required to provide documentation of having received the COVID-19 vaccination.
1340.5 Pregnant Students
All pregnant students should consult their obstetrician before receiving any vaccinations.
1340.6 Religious/Personal Belief Exemption
Students who demonstrate that BSOM’s vaccination requirements unduly burden the free exercise or observation of their sincerely-held religious belief, practice, or observance may be eligible for exemption from vaccination. To request an exemption, the student must (a) clearly identify the requested exemption; (b) clearly articulate a “religious belief, practice, or observance,” the observance or free-exercise of which is adversely affected by vaccination, and (c) show the sincerity of the stated religious belief, practice, or observance. “Religious” includes traditional tenets of established faiths, and also moral or ethical beliefs as to what is right and wrong, which are sincerely held with the strength of traditional religious views.
1340.7 Clinical Site Requirements
Please note that even when a student is granted an exemption by BSOM from any of the above requirements, the student still must request such an exemption from their clinical training site. That facility, independent of BSOM, may (or may not) conduct its own separate exemption process, which process may or may not result in the same decision as BSOM. BSOM will attempt to find alternative sites for any such students, but BSOM cannot and does not guarantee the availability of other clinical opportunities. Therefore, students should understand the possibility that noncompliance with any of the above requirements could, in some instances, and even if a BSOM exemption is granted, delay or disrupt their clinical academic progress for reasons beyond BSOM’s control.