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 July 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.

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 provide evidence of 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). All vaccination(s) in a series should be completed at least two weeks prior to matriculation. Boosters are required.
Hepatitis B	You must provide evidence of immunity to Hep B by submitting a blood test/titer showing serologic evidence of immunity. If your blood test does not show immunity, you will need to repeat the series followed by another titer. 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 and mumps by submitting a blood test/titer showing serologic evidence of immunity. If your blood test does not show immunity after receiving the vaccine, you must get re-vaccinated and repeat titers. 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 and mumps. You must provide evidence of immunity to rubella by submitting a blood test/titer showing serologic evidence of immunity. If your blood test does not show immunity, you must get 1 dose of MMR vaccine. You may end up receiving 2 doses, because the rubella component is in the combination vaccine with measles and mumps (which requires 2 doses). This must be followed by a blood test/titer (at least one month after the last dose) that shows you are immune to 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 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 8 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 screening prior to matriculation may be waived depending on the results of the screening questionnaire. All students will be offered a standard TB screening annually after matriculation beginning in Spring. This is administered and read on campus through the MBKU Office of Student Affairs. Any student with a positive screening 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.