All students entering the School of Physician Assistant Studies must be in good health and free of communicable diseases. All students must submit proof of required immunization as directed. Titers must be obtained within the U.S. and in the calendar year of matriculation, prior to matriculation. 

On or about June 1^st students will receive an email from Exxat Prism addressed to their newly created Ketchum student email. Students should follow Exxat Prism instructions to open their account and create a password. Once fully registered with Exxat Prism, students should upload required immunization documentation to this account. Documentation of required titers and initial TB screening must be submitted on Exxat Prism by July 15th in the year of matriculation. 

Each uploaded file must be smaller than 100KB in size. The uploaded documents will be reviewed, and the student will be notified if there are any outstanding requirements.

Immunization Policy

MBKU’s policy on immunization of students follows the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommendations for Healthcare workers: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/adults/rec-vac/hcw.html. All PA students, as healthcare workers (HCWs), are at risk for exposure to serious, and sometimes deadly, diseases. If a student is unable to confirm immunization status or unable to obtain immunizations due to personal, religious, or medical reasons, SPAS cannot guarantee the student’s placement at a clinical site which may limit or prevent the student’s ability to successfully complete all rotations and graduate from the program.

It is the student’s responsibility to maintain accurate and complete records on the Exxat Prism program throughout their duration as a student, including timely updating of all immunization and tuberculous screening results.  Failure to meet the immunization requirements will result in a student being placed on “Health Hold” until the requirements have been met. Students on a Health Hold will not be allowed to register for courses or attend clinical rotations unless all requirements have been met. Students requesting a medical exemption to these requirements should contact MBKU Student Disability Services and be prepared to provide medical documentation to support the request.

The following vaccinations are recommended for all SPAS Students:

Vaccinations Recommended

Vaccines - Recommended	Recommended For
Meningoccal	Those who are routinely exposed to isolates of N. meningitidis should get one dose.
Hepatitis A	Recommend for all students per the CDC vaccination schedule.
Polio	Recommended for all students.

The following vaccinations/screenings are REQUIRED for all SPAS Students:

Vaccinations Required

Vaccines - Required	CDC Recommendations
COVID-19	You must maintain an up-to-date COVID-19 booster, which means getting the annual booster when available (typically in the fall). Proof of updated booster will be due by Sept. 30th annually. If available, please also provide documentation of initial full vaccination (both doses in a 2-dose series such as Pfizer or Moderna, or one dose in single-dose vaccines such as Johnson & Johnson and booster when applicable).
Hepatitis B	You must provide evidence of immunity to Hep B by submitting a blood test/titer (Hepatitis B surface antibody) showing serologic evidence of immunity. If your blood test does not show immunity, you will need to repeat the series followed by another titer 1 month after the final dose. If you have not received the Hep B vaccination series, you must get the three-dose series (dose #1 now, #2 in 1 month, #3 approximately 5 months after #2) followed by a blood test/titer at least 1 month after.
Flu (Influenza)	Get 1 dose of influenza vaccine by Sept 30th each year.
MMR (Measles, Mumps, & Rubella)	You must provide evidence of immunity to measles, mumps, and rubella by submitting a blood test/titer showing serologic evidence of immunity. If your blood test does not show immunity, you must get 2 doses of the MMR vaccine, followed by repeat titers (1 month after the final dose) showing immunity to measles, mumps, and rubella. If you have not received the measles and mumps vaccination series, you must get 2 doses of MMR, followed by a blood test/titer (at least one month after the series) that shows you are immune to measles, mumps, and rubella.
Varicella (Chickenpox)	You must provide evidence of immunity to varicella by submitting a blood test/titer showing serologic evidence of immunity. If your blood test does not show immunity, you must get 2 doses of the varicella vaccine (4 weeks apart) followed by a blood test/titer (1 month after the final dose of vaccine) that shows you are immune to varicella.
Tdap (Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis)	You must provide evidence of Tdap immunization administered after the age of 18 via immunization record. If Tdap was administered more than 10 years ago or prior to age 18, a Td or Tdap booster is required. Pregnant HCWs need to get a dose of Tdap during each pregnancy.
Tuberculosis (TB) Screening/PPD	A TB screening must be done annually. The TB testing prior to matriculation may be waived depending on the results of the screening questionnaire, but all students will be required to complete TB testing at least annually during their time as students at MBKU. Testing may be PPD (skin test), QuantiFERON or similar blood test, and/or chest XR as determined by TB screening recommendations (see form for details). Any student with a positive PPD test will be required to obtain a chest X-Ray and/or QuantiFERON blood test prior to clinical rotations.
Other	Information about any additional required vaccinations will be communicated with students via email and the MBKU portal.