Procedures and Guidelines

Immunization and Serology Requirements for Medical Students

Categories: Immunizations faculty Admission Forms UGME

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General information

  • University of Saskatchewan Health Sciences students are required to provide proof of immunizations, as part of our Clinical Placement Agreement.
  • Completion of immunizations is required for Clinical Placements. Students who do not complete recommended immunization(s) must discuss with the Associate Dean (or designate), sign a waiver, and may be excluded from some clinical areas and out of province electives during clerkship or Pre-Clerkship clinical experiences. Please see the   SHA immunization waiver and the Clinical Placement Agreement – Schedule E for more details.  For certain vaccinations, exemption from immunization is only allowed for students with approved accommodations through Access and Equity Services.
  • Completion of the immunization requirements is the responsibility of the student as well as any associated costs. Most immunizations are covered by your Provincial Health card, with the exception of the Two Step Tuberculin skin test, which will cost $80 payable by debit or credit at your first visit
  • CONSENT: Immunization records and/or serology results will be shared with your college and clinical placements throughout your studies as required – this is to ensure your safety and the safety of your patients. You are required to sign a consent form to authorize sharing of this information

Immunization instructions for students entering Year 1

  1. Review the Specific Immunization Requirements (see below). The requirements align with the requirements you will have when you participate in clinical electives through the AFMC Student Portal.
  2. Locate your childhood and adult immunization records. If you do not have these records, contact your Public Health Unit or Family Doctor.
  3. Set up an appointment with Student Wellness — Locate your childhood and adult immunization records. If you do not have these records, contact your Public Health Unit or Family Doctor. Students are required to submit immunization records and a signed consent form to student.wellness@usask.ca prior to their first appointment. Note that Student Wellness can provide remote appointments.

Student Wellness Place Riel Student Centre, 4th Floor University of Saskatchewan 1 Campus Drive Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A3.

For appointments or immunization review inquiries: (306) 966-5768.

For any questions regarding immunizations records please contact nurse.swc@usask.ca

You may choose to see your Family Physician to begin and/or complete your immunization review, but you are still required to have an appointment with Student Health Services to ensure all requirements have been met.

  1. You will have your Two-Step Tuberculin skin test (TST) at your first visit at Student Health. The TST is completed over 4 visits. Regina students may complete the TST with Employee Health and Safety (see For Regina students Only).
  2. Sign the attached immunization consent form and bring it to your first appointment.
  3. The deadline for completion of immunizations is August 23, 2023.
    1. Saskatoon students submit your completed record to medicine.ugme@usask.ca
    2. Regina students submit your completed record to sherry.lindenbach@saskhealthauthority.ca
  4. Completion of immunizations is an expectation under the Clinical Placement Agreement between the University of Saskatchewan and Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA). Any student who is not able to complete recommended and required immunizations, or chooses not to receive those immunizations, should contact the Associate Dean, UGME to discuss, and must complete, sign and submit the SHA Immunization Waiver to the Associate Dean UGME after that discussion.

For the Regina students only:

  1. You will book your initial immunization review with the Student Wellness Centre for a virtual or in-person meeting by calling 306-966-5768.
  2. You will complete the requirements as given to the student by the Student Wellness Center.  This may include serology testing that needs to be carried out at a laboratory. Additionally, both the TST 2-step series skin test and boosters will be provided by Regina Employee Health and Safety Services, call (306) -766-4360 to set up an appointment (please advise that you are a Year 1 medical student calling to set up their TST and immunizations). 
  3. You will receive a hard copy of test results & proof of boosters from your provider and/or Regina Employee Health and Safety nurses.
  4. You will need to book a second appointment with the Student Wellness Centre to review your Completed immunization.
  5. It is your responsibility to deliver the completed immunization records to the College of Medicine Learning Centre in Regina by taking a hard copy to Sherry Lindenbach, Regina Learning Centre, OR sending a copy to Sherry.lindenbach@saskhealthauthority.ca.

Specific immunization requirements

COVID-19

Tetanus/Diphtheria (Td)

  • Primary series of 3-5 doses, then a booster every 10 years

Pertussis

  • Primary series and Tdap or Tdap – Pertussis booster given at 18 years or older.

Polio

  • Primary series, booster if travelling in endemic areas

Measles, mumps, rubella

  • Documented proof of vaccination with 2 doses of measles, mumps, and rubella

Tuberculin skin test (TST)

  • Two step TST (to be done at Student Health)
  • If there is a history of a positive Tuberculin, a CXR is required, or other follow-up as recommended by TB Services
  • In Clerkship, some visiting electives require students to complete a single TST if their most recent one was over 12 months before the electives start.

Hepatitis B

  • Immunizations: documentation of a Hepatitis B immunizations series is required for all students
  • Serology: both anti-HBs (hepatitis B surface antibody) and HBsAg (hepatitis B surface antigen) are required. Hep B serology is tested annually unless they have been confirmed immune to HBV or unless required to be done earlier pursuant to a blood or body fluid exposure protocol
  • For any students not confirmed immune to Hepatitis B, annual serology will be required

Varicella (Chickenpox)

  • Serological evidence of immunity (please attach) OR proof of two doses of varicella vaccination

Influenza

  • Influenza immunization is strongly recommended.
  • Clinical clerks can receive their influenza immunization at public health clinics across the province, some physician and nurse practitioner offices and in local pharmacies. For more information on influenza immunizations visit 4flu.ca
  • In the event of influenza or other outbreak, any unvaccinated or non-immune student may be excluded from the outbreak area and not be allowed to return until the SHA has determined it is safe to do so.

Hepatitis C

  • HCV serology (Hep C Ab) is required for all students (Documentation of serology is required within 1st year and again end of 3rd year)

HIV

  • HIV serology is required for all students (Documentation of serology is required within 1st year and again end of 3rd year)