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: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/imz-schedules/resources.html, summarized in Healthcare Personnel Vaccination Recommendation [1 page]: https://www.immunize.org/wp-content/uploads/catg.d/p2017.pdf. 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
COVID-19	The COVID-19 vaccine is optional for incoming students. MBKU recommends that incoming students have received an initial vaccine for COVID, but it is ultimately up to the individual. Clinical rotation sites may require COVID-19 vaccinations. Students who are out of compliance with clinical site onboarding requirements risk losing their opportunity to rotate at the site and may not be able to complete the program. Therefore, the School of PA Studies recommends receiving and maintaining full up-to-date covid vaccination.
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
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 labs do not show immunity or you never received the initial vaccination series, then you must get a 2-dose (Heplisav-B) or 3-dose series (Engerix-B or Recombivax HB) of the hep B vaccine/booster and a repeat titer 1 month after the last dose.
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 labs do not show immunity to any of the three diseases (measles, mumps, or rubella) or you never received the initial vaccine series, then you must get a 2-dose series of the MMR vaccine/booster and a repeat titer 1 month after the last dose.
Varicella (Chickenpox)	You must provide evidence of immunity to varicella by submitting a blood test/titer showing serologic evidence of immunity. If your labs do not show immunity or you never received the initial vaccination series, then you must get a 2-dose series of the varicella vaccine/booster and a repeat titer 1 month after the last dose.
Flu (Influenza)	Get 1 dose of influenza vaccine by Sept 30th each year.
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 matriculated 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.