Immunization and other health requirements for students at colleges and schools of pharmacy in the United States and Puerto Rico

The primary purpose of this study was to determine the immunization and oth er health policies for entry-level and nontraditional PharmD degree student s at colleges and schools of pharmacy. Secondary objectives were to determi ne whether these requirements could be waived, when students undergo such t esting or must present proof of immunity to certain conditions, and the par ty that bears financial responsibility for these health policies. A self-ad ministered questionnaire was mailed to the director of experiential educati on at the 81 accredited colleges and schools of pharmacy. Duplicate packets were sent to nonrespondents. A total of 63 questionnaires were returned fo r an overall response rate of 78 percent. Sixty respondents (95 percent) in dicated that their institutions offer the entry-level PharmD degree program ; 40 (63 percent) noted that their colleges/schools offer the nontraditiona l PharmD degree program or plan to offer it within 12 months of completing the survey. Greater than 90 percent of colleges and schools require entry-l evel students to obtain a PPD and possess proof of immunity to or be vaccin ated against measles, mumps and rubella, while 85 percent of institutions r equire hepatitis B vaccination or proof of immunity. Fewer institutions req uire entry-level students to obtain other vaccinations such as varicella an d Td, a physical examination, or standard blood and urine tests. Significan tly more institutions require entry-level rather than nontraditional studen ts to meet certain requirements. Several colleges and schools of pharmacy a llow students to waive certain health requirements. Although colleges and s chools ensure that students meet specific health requirements, in most inst ances these requirements appear to be minimal, and do not meet CDC recommen dations for health care workers or those that would be required by a routin e medical examination. Individual colleges and schools should adopt health requirements for pharmacy students that meet national guidelines for health care workers.