Immunizations are extremely important to students during their tenure at Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine (MSUCOM) and as future medical care providers. During medical school and in the future, much of what you do in the health care setting will come under federal Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) guidelines. Under these and other guidelines there are certain sets of immunizations that are required of all healthcare workers. Each MSUCOM student must meet the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations for immunization of healthcare workers. All MSUCOM students are required to provide evidence of vaccination, or immunity to: Rubeola (measles), Rubella, Mumps, Diptheria/Tetanus, Polio, Varicella (chickenpox), Tuberculosis (TB; required annually) and Hepatitis B. Influenza immunization is strongly recommended for all students (not required).

1. It is the responsibility of all MSUCOM students to keep their immunizations current during their tenure in the College and to inform the College and the University Physicina's Office personally of all updates.

2. Pre-Orientation Responsibilities (see MSUCOM Student Immunization Requirements section below) Matriculating students should download the Student Immunization Record Form. Completed forms with appropriate documentation should be returned to the University Physician's Office by July 1st. University Physician's Office staff will review data from the completed forms and accompanying documentation and acceptable information will be entered into a student immunization database.

3. Orientation Presentation by Paula Guss, R. N., representing the University Physician's Office and the Associate Dean/Student Services. Issues to be discussed will include: student access to the student immunization database, immunization requirements, college and student responsibilities for keeping immunizations current, and monthly visits when representatives of the University Physician's Office will be in the Radiology Building throughout the academic year for updates and to take care of deficiencies. Ms. Guss will be available to answer questions from students. Students will be asked to access the database and check their immunization status. A University Physician's Office representative will be available either during Orientation or during the first weeks of classes to update any deficiencies matriculating students may have.

4. The University Physician's Office will contact students in years 1-4 electronically each month while they are enrolled in the College. Students will be asked to check their immunization status on the database. If deficiencies are discovered the students will be asked to take care of deficiencies immediately and fax documentation to the University Physician's Office so that their immunization status can be updated in the database.

5. The University Physician's will notify students electronically throughout the academic year as to when a representative will be in the Radiology Building to do immunization updates, take care of deficiencies and enter current data in the database.

6. The Associate Dean/Student Services will review all student immunization records on a regular basis during the academic year to be sure that they are current.

7. All immunizations are to be current before students experience patient contact. Patient contact during years 1 and 2 includes, but is not restricted to: FCM 640 and 650, Principles of Family Medicine I and II (preceptorship), Student OMM Clinic, elective shadowing experiences and community health fairs. Failure to have current immunizations will result in a student not being able to continue enrollment and/or participation in courses and events involving patient contact.

8. Students in years 3 and 4 whose immunizations are current but who will have deficiencies (e.g. TB) in an upcoming month will be contacted personally on the first of that month by the Office of Student Services. Students will be asked to take care of the upcoming deficiencies immediately and fax documentation to the University Physician's Office for inclusion in the database. Failure to do the above will result in the Clerkship Program Office contacting the students base hospital and informing the Director of Medical Education (DME) of the deficiency

9. During Summer Semester prior to entry into the Clerkship Program, the Associate Dean/Student Services will review Year 2 student immunization records. Any deficiencies will be noted and those students having deficiencies will be contacted personally and asked to take care of the deficiencies by providing documentation to the University Physician's Office for inclusion in the database. Failure to take care of deficiencies will result in a student not being permitted to begin the Clerkship Program. Student immunization records will be sent to the DME at each base hospital near the end of Semester 7 prior to the start of the Clerkship Program.

Immunizations are extremely important to you as you prepare to enter medical school and as a medical care provider. During medical school and in the future much of what you do in the health care setting will come under federal Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) guidelines. Under these and other guidelines there are certain sets of immunizations that are required for all health care providers. This section will give you all of the detailed information to fulfill the MSUCOM immunization requirements. If you have any questions regarding required immunizations after reading this section in its entirety, please feel free to contact Paula Guss, R.N., at (517) 353-9137 or guss@msu.edu. Ms. Guss has considerable experience with medical student immunizations and is well qualified to answer your questions.

All MSUCOM entering students are required to prove their immunization status by downloading, completing and turning in the Student Immunization Record Form. Please make a copy of your completed immunization form for you own records and mail the original to the following by July 1st, prior to your matriculation to the college:

There are two immunizations that require an extended period of time for completion: Polio and Hepatitis B. There have been recent situations where unprotected health care workers contracted Polio while taking care of children that have been immunized with a live polio vaccine. Therefore, the Center for Disease Control has made two recommendations: 1) all health care workers should have at least three polio vaccinations; and 2) the live vaccination series should be discontinued and the attenuated vaccine should be used. Many people do not get immunized for Hepatitis B. This series takes 7-9 months to complete and must be accompanied with a titer to prove immunity. If you do not have documentation for at least 3 polio vaccinations and have not started or completed your Hepatitis B series contact your primary care physician as soon as possible, and take this package with you.

It is important that you give this matter serious attention. We are required to uniformly enforce student compliance with federal guidelines requiring immunization of healthcare workers. A final word about immunization to Hepatitis B this is not a pre-entry requirement; however, we encourage you to start the series of shots as soon as possible. You will have opportunities to complete the three shot series and to have your titer drawn during your first year here.

After you have submitted your Student Immunization Record Form, staff in the University Physician's Office will review it and the information will be entered into a database. Any areas needing additional proof/documentation will be noted and discussed with you during Orientation. In addition, students showing deficiencies in their immunizations will be required to receive immunizations during Orientation, or closely there after, for a small fee.

Again, if you have any questions regarding your status, contact Ms. Guss. If your immunizations are not complete when you begin classes you will not be able to participate in certain MSUCOM events and student community organizations.