SOT Student Immunization Policy

PNWU, in conjunction with requirements of regional hospitals and clinics and the Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommendations for Health Care Providers (Immunization of Health-Care Personnel: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) Recommendations and Reports November 25, 2011 / 60(RR07);1-45), adheres to the following requirements:

Required immunizations must be current as of start of classes of the student’s first year and maintained thereafter. A blood test (titer) documenting immunity is required in some cases and to prove immunity when there is no vaccination record.

• Hepatitis B: Documentation of three vaccination series and a quantitative assay > 10
• Tetanus toxoid (Td/Tdap): Documentation of one Tdap immunization and either a Td or Tdap within the last ten years.
• MMR: Primary series of two dose vaccine and a quantitative serum titer documentation of immunity is required. 
• Varicella: Documentation of two-dose vaccine or quantitative serum titer. 
• Influenza: vaccination annually, by November 1. If done prior to October it is recommended to get a booster.
• Tuberculosis Surveillance: PNWU requires yearly tuberculosis (TB) exposure testing as recommended by the CDC.
• COVID-19 vaccine

Recommended and encouraged immunizations if high risk of exposure.

• COVID booster
• Hepatitis A: Documentation of two vaccination series.
• DPT: Documentation of primary series of five doses with D-tap or DPT. If vaccine record is unavailable, obtain adult series of three Tdap/Td shots.
• Meningococcal (MenACWY): Recommended, a single dose at age 11 or 12 years followed by a booster dose administered at age 16. Persons aged 19-21 years who have not received a dose after their 16th birthday can receive a single MenACWY dose as part of a catch-up vaccination.
• Polio (Type OPV/IPV): Documentation of childhood four dose series unless dose number three was given on or after age four. If vaccine record is unavailable, adult series of three IPV.

Immunization Exemption
Students may request a vaccination exception for medical or religious reasons by submitting the vaccination exception request form. The request will be reviewed by the PNWU immunization nurse and the student will be notified of the decision and any follow up actions required. A PNWU immunization exemption does not confer exemption to healthcare entities where students do clinical coursework. Organizations and healthcare facilities may refuse participation in clinical training for students with vaccine exemptions.