Infectious Disease Screening and Vaccination Policy and Procedures for Students with Placement in a Healthcare Setting

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1. Purpose, Basis, and Objectives of the Policy

1.1   The purpose of this policy is to reduce the risk of a relevant student (who comes within the scope of this Policy) contracting or transmitting an infectious disease in a healthcare setting during a placement. It is important that relevant students adhere to this University Policy, and they are on notice of the fact that failure or refusal to do so, could result in the denial of placement in certain healthcare settings. Any decision impacting placement progression will be made following an individualised assessment and in accordance with the University’s Fitness to Practise procedures. In such event, a student may not be in a position to acquire the necessary skills or core competencies for their programme which may delay progression through a programme. In some circumstances, it may result in a student being unable to graduate in their chosen programme and the student may be required to transfer to an alternative exit degree programme.  Students on placement in a healthcare setting have a responsibility to protect patients and colleagues from healthcare-associated infections. A relevant student’s failure or refusal to adhere to this Policy may also result in the Head of School addressing the matter under the Fitness to Practise Policy. This Policy shall be applied in a manner consistent with the principles of natural justice, equality legislation, and the University’s published procedures on appeals and Fitness to Practise.

1.2   The basis for this policy includes (a) The National Immunisation Guidelines of Ireland¹ and (b) The HSE Pre-Placement Health Assessment guidance for staff² and  (c) The HSE Integrated Guidance on Health Clearance of Healthcare Workers and the Management of Healthcare Workers Living with Bloodborne Viruses (Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV)³. The recommendations and standards contained in this policy will be amended and updated from time to time in accordance with changes in these and other relevant recommendations from Public Health, Occupational Health, and the HSE placement and other placement partners. 

1.3 The objectives of this policy are to set out clearly the:
1.3.1    programmes and students subject to the policy
1.3.2    roles and responsibilities of students, Student Health, Schools/Departments under the policy
1.3.3    vaccinations recommended for students in healthcare settings
1.3.4    standards to be met to deem a student Infectious Disease (ID) Cleared for Placement
1.3.5    standards to be met to deem a student as immune to specified infectious diseases
1.3.6    management of a student who is deemed infectious with a blood borne virus

2. Owner of the Policy

The owner of the policy is the Deputy President and Registrar.

3. Scope of the Policy

3.1    The policy shall apply to students on programmes where placement in a healthcare setting is required as part of their programme. The programme Qualification Codes  are as follows:

3.1.1    BMBB BMBBG BMBBD MScRT MScDR BSCPRM (School of Medicine)
3.1.2    BDS BDSG DDH DDN (School of Dentistry)
3.1.3    BScSLT BScOT MScAU MScPTP (School of Clinical Therapies)
3.1.4    BPharm MPharm (School of Pharmacy)
3.1.5    MFSTHN (School of Food Nutritional Sciences)
3.1.6    MSCCPL (Department of Physiology)

3.2    The policy shall not apply to students in the School of Nursing and Midwifery. Under an established MOU with the HSE, undergraduate nursing and midwifery students are provided with infectious disease screening and vaccination by the HSE.

3.3    Further Programmes may be added to the list at 3.1 subject to the approval of Academic Council, if a risk assessment undertaken by the School/Department of placement settings and activities undertaken by students on their placements in those settings, in consultation with the placement partners, and the Head of Student Health indicates that Infectious Disease (ID) screening and vaccination is required. 

3.4    The policy shall apply to a student on programmes not listed at 3.1 above if a risk assessment undertaken by the School or Department of the placement setting or the activities to be undertaken by the student on placement indicates that Infectious Disease (ID) screening and vaccination is required. The ID screening and vaccination required in these circumstances will be decided by the Student Health Doctor in discussion with the student and representatives of the placement setting. 

3.5  Fees payable by the student for the service are at www.ucc.ie/en/studenthealth/healthcare

3.6  This policy refers to the University’s Fitness to Practise Policy and it should be read in conjunction with this Policy.

4. Glossary of Terms

5. List of Abbreviations

6. Roles and Responsibilities

6.1   Student Health Department

6.1.1    To promote  uptake of preventative measures including screening and vaccination.
6.1.2    To investigate, treat, and where appropriate refer students for specialist opinion.
6.1.3    To liaise with local Dept. of Public Health HSE(s), relevant Schools, and the University OCLA in the event of an outbreak of an infectious disease.
6.1.4    To schedule vaccine clinics for students in consultation with their School.
6.1.5    To screen, vaccinate, and complete ID clearance of students for placement. 
6.1.6    To provide year-level reports to Schools on the ID clearance status of their students once annually, and on request, in the interim.
6.1.7    To communicate with students to achieve compliance with this policy.
6.1.8    To provide students with copies of excerpts from their medical records, their vaccination history, and their laboratory test results on request.
6.1.9    To manage data relating to a student’s  infectious disease screening and vaccination and infectious risk status in line with GDPR and as per Section 20 of this policy.
6.1.10    To review and to update this policy at least once every three years to ensure it is consistent with relevant guidelines^1,2,3.

6.2   Student

6.2.1    To comply with all requirements of this policy, which includes acceptance of the possible implications for their progression by not doing so, as outlined in section 1.1 and section 11 below. 
6.2.2    To pay all related fees due to the Student Health Department, unless exempt.
6.2.3    To provide the Student Health Department with  records of previous relevant vaccination history.
6.2.4    To attend appointments in the Student Health Department relating to infectious disease screening, vaccination, and clearance for placement.
6.2.5    Students are required to complete a Student Acknowledgement Form (as in Appendix 2 below) to confirm their understanding and acceptance of this policy.

6.3   School or Department

6.3.1    To allow on placement only those students ID Cleared for Placement.
6.3.2    To promote uptake of preventative measures, including screening and vaccination.
6.3.3    To schedule vaccination clinics in consultation with the Student Health Department.
6.3.4    To undertake risk assessments of their healthcare placement settings and the activities undertaken by students on placement in these settings.
6.3.5    To liaise with the Student Health Department, the placement setting, and the local Dept. Of Public Health HSE (s), in the event of an outbreak of an infectious disease.
6.3.6    To review and act on issues arising in year-level reports provided by the Student Health Department to the School or Department.
6.3.7    To communicate with individual students who do not comply with the requirements of this policy to achieve compliance.
6.3.8    To manage data relating to a student’s  infectious disease screening and vaccination and infectious risk status in line with GDPR and as per Section 20 of this policy.

7. ID Cleared for Placement Standards

7.1    The following standards must be met to deem a student as ID Cleared for Placement:

7.1.1    Fees related to ID screening and vaccination programme are paid, unless exempt (All)
7.1.2    Tuberculosis (TB) screening shows no evidence of active TB (All)
7.1.3    Cleared for Exposure Prone Procedures (EPPs) (relevant programmes only)

7.2    UCC Student Health Department is solely responsible for determining if standards are met. Prior certified ID clearance by an Occ. Health or other Student Health service in Ireland will be considered by UCC Student Health to determine if UCC ID clearance standards are met.

8. ID Cleared for Placement Status

8.1    The following ID Cleared for Placement Statuses apply.

8.1.1    Not ID Cleared for Placement: Does not meet one or more of standards 7.1
8.1.2    ID Cleared for Placement; meets all relevant immunity standards. Meets all relevant standards at 7.1 and meets all immunity standards set for the following infectious diseases; Hepatitis B. MMR, and Varicella Zoster (see section 12 below)
8.1.3    ID Cleared for Placement; does not meet all relevant immunity standards. Meets all relevant standards at 7.1 but does not meet one or more of immunity standards set for the following infectious diseases;  Hepatitis B. MMR, or Varicella Zoster (see section 12 below)

9. ID Cleared for Placement Duration

9.1    Excepting 9.2 below, students are deemed ID Cleared for Placement for the whole duration of their current programme. Repeat ID Clearance for Placement is required if a student starts on another programme.

9.2    Students who are on programmes requiring EPP clearance, and who are not immune to Hepatitis B or who have been infected with a Blood Borne Virus and not infectious, are deemed ID Cleared for Placement for one year only. These students require EPP clearance at the start of each academic year, to be ID Cleared for Placement for that year.

10. Tuberculosis Screening

10.1    TB screening always incudes; screening BCG vaccination status, screening for TB symptoms, and screening for exposure risk arising from High TB-Risk Travel. Screening by IGRA Quantiferon blood test (or Tuberculin Skin Test (TST)), Chest X-Ray (CXR),and by MUH TB/Respiratory Clinic is needed in some circumstances.

10.2    Screening for BCG vaccination status:

10.2.1    Acceptable confirmation of prior BCG vaccination includes one of:

10.2.1.1    Written documentation of prior BCG vaccination
10.2.1.2    Written clinician confirmation of presence of BCG scar

10.2.2    Students who do not have confirmation of prior BCG are required to have an IGRA Quantiferon blood test, (except 10.6 where TST is used)

10.3    Screening for TB symptoms:

10.3.1    Students with any symptoms positive on TB symptom screen are required to have an IGRA Quantiferon blood test (except 10.6 where TST is used) and a CXR.

10.4    Screening for High TB-Risk TB Travel:

10.4.1    High-risk TB travel is defined as having spent more than one 1 month within the past 2 years in a country with high TB endemicity AND having worked in healthcare or having lived or worked with high-risk local populations while there.
10.4.2    Countries identified as having high TB endemicity are defined by WHO as having an incidence of TB >40/100,000 cases per year⁴.
10.4.3    Students with a history of high-risk TB travel are required to have an IGRA Quantiferon blood test (except 10.6 where TST is used) and a CXR.

10.5    Screening by referral to MUH TB Respiratory Clinic:

10.5.1    Students with a positive IGRA or positive CXR are referred to the TB/Respiratory clinic in the MUH for further screening for LBTI or active TB.
10.5.2    Students with LTBI are recommended to be treated to  reduce the risk of progression to active TB. Students with LTBI and no active TB are deemed to have Cleared TB Screening.
10.5.3    Students with active TB are treated by MUH TB/Respiratory clinic.  They are deemed as not cleared for placement until the hospital clinic confirms there is  no evidence of their having active TB.

10.6    TB screening by Tuberculin Skin Testing (TST) is an acceptable alternative to the use of IGRA Quantiferon blood test. This requires between two to four attendances and its use is usually limited only to students who wish to work in North America.

10.7    TB screening with documented evidence of an IGRA Quantiferon, TST, or CXR that has been undertaken external to Student Health is accepted by Student Health provided it was undertaken no longer than 12 months prior to start date in UCC. Student Health reserves the right to require students to repeat these investigations in Ireland.

11. Vaccinations in Healthcare Settings

11.1    Vaccinations are advocated in healthcare settings to protect individual students, their fellow students, healthcare workers, patients and clients. Many patients and clients are at very high risk of serious illness if they contract an infectious disease.

11.2    Vaccinations against Hepatitis B, MMR, and Varicella Zoster, are strongly recommended for all UCC students on placement in a healthcare setting. It is an expectation that where recommended, students on programmes that involve placement in healthcare setting will receive vaccinations to mitigate risk to self and others, including and especially to protect vulnerable patients and clients.

11.3    These vaccinations are not mandatory, however where a student declines vaccination, is  unable to be vaccinated due to a confirmed medical contraindication, or does not meet recommended immunity standards, any restriction on placement activities will be determined following an individualised risk assessment.
Such assessments will consider the nature of the healthcare setting, the activities to be undertaken, the risk posed to patients, staff, and the student, and the requirements of the placement provider.
Where restrictions are necessary, the University will, where reasonably practicable, consider alternative placement options, modified duties, or alternative pathways to enable the student to meet programme learning outcomes, subject to academic and professional accreditation requirements.
Restrictions may  impact negatively on a student’s ability to acquire the necessary skills or core competencies for their programme. This may delay progression through a programme. Any decision impacting placement progression will be made following an individualised assessment and in accordance with the University’s Fitness to Practise procedures. In some circumstances, it may result in a student being unable to graduate in their chosen programme and the student may be required to transfer to an alternative exit degree programme.

11.4    Annual Influenza vaccination is also strongly recommended for healthcare students but not yet routinely included under these procedures.

11.5     SARS-CoV-2 vaccination is also strongly recommended for healthcare students but not yet routinely included under these procedures.

11.6    Students are recommended to keep documentation of vaccinations received external to Student Health, and shall, on request present evidence of same to Student Health. 

12. Immunity Standards for Infectious Diseases

Hepatitis B
Measles, Mumps, Rubella
Varicella Zoster

12.1 Hepatitis B

12.1.1    Immunity to Hepatitis B is demonstrated by previous infection-induced immunity as confirmed on laboratory results of anti HBc  positive and HBsAg negative- see 12.1.4.2 below,  OR vaccine-induced immunity confirmed on laboratory results of  Hepatitis B surface antibody -anti-HBs- level of ≥10mIU/ml, 4-8 weeks after a completed vaccination course.

12.1.2    Students who have not previously been vaccinated or demonstrated immunity to Hepatitis B are recommended to complete a course of either:

12.1.2.1    3 doses Hepatitis B vaccine  0, 1, 5-6 months. (Standard schedule)

12.1.2.2    4 doses Hepatitis B vaccine 0,7,21d,12 months. (Accelerated schedule)

12.1.3    The minimum intervals between Hepatitis B vaccinations in the standard schedule are⁵: Dose 1 to Dose 2 = 4 weeks; Dose 2 to Dose 3 = 8 weeks; Dose 1 to Dose 3 = 16 weeks

12.1.4    The accelerated schedule is used only where a student is likely to be undertaking an Exposure Prone Procedure within 6 months of registration.

12.1.5    Hepatitis B Vaccine Non-Responders:

12.1.5.1    Students with anti-HBs titre levels of <10mIU/ml  after a completed Hepatitis B vaccination course should be tested for anti-HBc, and for HBsAg if on a programme requiring EPP clearance.

12.1.5.2    If anti-HBc negative, students should be given a booster dose of the same Hepatitis B vaccine and should have anti-HBs titres checked 8 weeks after the last dose.

12.1.5.3    If anti-HBs remains <10miU/ml, students should be given 2 further doses of the same Hepatitis B vaccine to complete their second full course of Hepatitis B vaccines, and anti-HBs titres checked 8 weeks after the last dose.

12.1.5.4    If anti-HBs remains <10mIU/ml after completion of two full courses  of Hepatitis B vaccination, it is unlikely that there will be benefit from additional doses of the vaccine and the student is considered as a true non-responder to the Hepatitis B vaccine. The student is deemed to be susceptible to Hepatitis B infection.

12.1.5.5    True non-responders should minimise potential exposure to blood and body fluids. In accordance with HSE Guidance³, they should be advised that they require Hepatitis B immunoglobulin as post exposure prophylaxis ideally within 48 hours or within 1 week following exposure, based on a risk assessment of significant exposure to Hepatitis B virus. 

12.1.5.6    If anti HBc is positive and HBsAg is negative, the student is deemed to be isolated Hepatitis B core antibody positive. Notify Public Health HSE South. Refer Consultant in ID.

12.1.5.7    If anti HBc is positive and HBsAg is positive: the student is deemed to have potential Hepatitis B infectious status; Notify Public Health HSE South and refer Consultant in ID. If the student is on a programme that requires EPP clearance, further investigation of infectivity is required. (Sections 13-16).

12.2 Measles, Mumps, Rubella

12.2.1    Immunity to Measles Mumps Rubella is demonstrated by written documentation of prior vaccination with 2 doses of MMR vaccine at least 28 days apart.

12.2.2    Students unable to demonstrate immunity to MMR are recommended to receive to a total of 2 lifetime doses of MMR vaccine at least 28 days apart.

12.2.3    Students who believe they have definitely had 2 doses of MMR and who are unable to provide documentation may undergo serology testing for MMR IgG titres. Only Measles and Rubella IgG positive status are considered reliable predictors of immunity to these infections. Mumps IgG serology is not a reliable predictor of immunity.

12.2.4    Where any of MMR IgG serology is negative or equivocal, or in an MMR outbreak situation, vaccination of at least 2 lifetime doses of MMR is recommended. 

12.3 Varicella Zoster

12.3.1    Immunity is demonstrated by one of:

12.3.1.1    Documentation shows prior vaccination with 2 doses of Varicella Zoster vaccine at least 28 days apart.
12.3.1.2    Documented Varicella Zoster IgG titre positive.

12.3.2    Students unable to demonstrate immunity have their IgG serology to Varicella Zoster blood test undertaken in Student Health

12.3.3    Where students are Varicella Zoster IgG titre negative or equivocal, vaccination of at least 2 lifetime doses of Varicella Zoster vaccine at least 28 days apart is recommended.

13. Exposure Prone Procedure Screening

13.1    Students on the following programmes must undergo Exposure Prone Procedure (EPP) screening and clearance prior to their being permitted to undertake EPPs.

13.1.1    BMBB BMBBD BMBBG BSCPRM
13.1.2    BDS BDSG DDH DDN
13.1.3    BScSLT

13.2    Students undergo EPP screening on their first registration on a programme that requires EPP clearance. Repeat EPP Clearance may be required if a student starts on another programme where EPP clearance is required. EPP clearance external to UCC is not accepted as proof of EPP clearance for a UCC programme.

13.3    Exposure Prone Procedures³ are invasive procedures where there is potential for direct contact between the skin, usually finger or thumb of the healthcare worker and sharp objects or surgical instruments – such as needles, sharp body parts (for example fractured bones) spicules of bone or teeth – in body cavities or in poorly visualised or confined body sites, including the mouth of the patient.

13.4    EPP screening blood tests are carried out on an IVS, taken by UCC Student Health. The identity of the student is confirmed using appropriate photographic ID at time of sampling.

13.5    Exposure Prone Procedure screening requires blood testing for Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV. The following tests are used.

13.5.1    Hepatitis B core antibody (Anti-HBc)
13.5.2    Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)
13.5.3    Hepatitis C antibody
13.5.4    Human Immunodeficiency Virus antibody

13.6    All HBsAg positive samples undergo further testing by the laboratory to detect the presence of Hepatitis e-antigen, to determine if infectious. (See 15.3.1 and 15.3.2)

14. Exposure Prone Procedure Clearance

14.1    A student is certified as Cleared for EPP if they are  non-infectious with Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV, as confirmed by IVS laboratory report

14.2    The documentary evidence provided by Student Health to confirm EPP clearance includes:

14.2.1    Copies of the original laboratory blood tests undertaken for EPP Clearance 
14.2.2    An EPP Clearance Certificate confirming that the student is cleared to undertake exposure prone procedures with laboratory testing showing the student is non-infectious with Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV, using the Identity Validated Sample standard.
The duration of EPP Clearance Certificate is specified as 12 months where annual EPP clearance is required (see 14.3.2, 15.4, 15.6, and 15.8 below).

14.3    Duration of EPP Clearance is determined by the student’s Hepatitis B Immunity status

14.3.1    Student Hepatitis B Immune: EPP Clearance Duration is for the duration of the programme
14.3.2    Student Hepatitis B Non-Immune:  EPP Clearance Duration is for 12 months only

14.4    Students who are Hepatitis B non- immune and who require to be cleared for EPPs  must attend Student Health at the start of each academic year for EPP clearance. 

15. Not Cleared for Exposure Prone Procedures

15.1    A student is deemed as Not Cleared for EPP if they are infectious carriers of either Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, or HIV.

15.2    Students found to be infectious carriers of BBVs will need to comply with advice from the Occupational Health service of their clinical setting, from their Irish-based Consultant in Infectious Diseases or other relevant specialty, and from Student Health.  

15.3    A student is infectious with Hepatitis B: 

15.3.1    if their HBsAg is positive and their e-antigen is positive
15.3.2    if their HBsAg is positive and their Hepatitis e antigen is negative, and their Hepatitis B Viral load, measured on 3 separate occasions over a 6-week period, is >200 IU/ml  on one or more occasion.

15.4    Any student identified as Hepatitis B sAg positive and e-antigen negative and whose Hepatitis B Viral load measured on 3 separate occasions over a 6-week period remains < 200IU/ml  is deemed EPP cleared. The duration of EPP clearance is for 12 months. The student must attend UCC Student Health annually at the start of each academic year for viral load testing and annual EPP clearance 

15.5    A student who is Hepatitis C Virus antibody positive will be required to undergo Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing for Hepatitis C RNA. A Hepatitis C RNA PCR test which is positive indicates that a student may be infectious for Hepatitis C. Advice re their infectivity will be obtained from their Irish-based Consultant in Infectious Diseases or other relevant specialty. 

15.6    A student who is Hepatitis C Virus antibody positive and Hepatitis C RNA PCR test “target not detected” on two assays 6 months apart, is considered non-infectious with Hepatitis C., and is deemed EPP cleared. The duration of EPP clearance is for 12 months. The student must attend UCC Student Health at the start of each academic year for viral load testing and annual EPP clearance

15.7    A student who is HIV antibody positive will be required to undergo viral load testing to determine their infectivity with HIV. Advice re their infectivity will be obtained by UCC Student Health from their Irish-based Consultant in Infectious Diseases or other relevant speciality.

15.8    A student who is HIV antibody positive and deemed non-infectious with HIV by their Irish-based Consultant in infectious Diseases or other relevant specialty is deemed as EPP cleared. The duration of EPP clearance is for 12 months. The student must attend UCC Student Health at the start of each academic year for viral load testing and annual EPP clearance. 
 

16. Students who contract a BBV or experience an exposure incident

16.1    Students are required to disclose to their Head of School/Department if they have contracted a BBV including any of Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, or HIV, if they are on a programme that requires that they be cleared for EPP.

16.2    Students are obliged to consider testing for BBV should they undergo an exposure incident which has put them at risk of contracting a BBV, if they are on a programme that requires that they be cleared for EPP. This includes exposure incidents in their personal life as well as exposure incidents that occur as part of their programme.

16.3    Students who contract a BBV and are deemed infectious with a BBV based on laboratory investigations must not undertake EPPs until they have been cleared for EPPs.  

16.4    A student who has been deemed Not Cleared for EPPs following their acquiring an infection with a BBV and laboratory tests showing them to be infectious with a BBV should be referred to a Consultant in Infectious Diseases or other relevant speciality. 

16.5    A student treated for a BBV infection who becomes non-infectious with the BBV is eligible to be cleared for EPP. The duration of EPP clearance is 12 months. The student must attend UCC Student Health at the start of each academic year for viral load testing and annual EPP clearance.

16.6    If and when a student previously deemed infectious is subsequently EPP Cleared, this must be communicated by Student Health to the responsible designated programme contact.

17. General Infection Prevention and Control Measures

17.1    Students must complete any mandatory training provided relating to infection prevention and control, including hand-hygiene, the use of Personal Protective Equipment, and Standard and Transmission based Precautions, prior to placement. 

17.2    Students are required to comply with all Infection Prevention Control measures in place in their healthcare placement setting. 

17.3    Students with symptoms of an infectious disease e.g. symptoms of viral respiratory tract infection or gastroenteritis have the potential to transmit infection in the university or healthcare setting and must not attend either setting until symptom-free, 48 hours after their fever recedes, or until clinician-recommended period of exclusion has ended, whichever is the longest.

17.4    In the event that they contract an infectious disease which has the potential to be transmitted by them in their healthcare placement setting, a student should inform the Infection Control or Outbreak Control Team in their healthcare placement setting, to obtain advice on the duration of any exclusion period required, and to assist with any contact tracing exercise that may arise.

17.5    A student who develops symptoms or contracts an infectious disease should discuss management of their situation with Student Health, or their treating Doctor, or Dept. of Public Health HSE (s), to obtain advice on the duration of any exclusion period required, and to assist with any contact tracing exercise that may arise.

17.6    A student who contracts an infectious disease should adhere strictly to the minimum period of isolation recommended and must not return to their healthcare placement setting or university setting until that period has elapsed.

17.7    A students who is not vaccinated against respiratory and other viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, Influenza, MMR, or Varicella Zoster will to the greatest degree practical, limit contact with patients in augmented care units, in particular haematology and oncology in-patient areas, haemodialysis services, and intensive care units including neonatal intensive care units.

18. Outbreak Situations

18.1    In the event of an outbreak of an infectious disease on campus or in their healthcare placement setting, a student is required to adhere to all standard and any additional Infection Prevention Control measures in place during the outbreak.

18.2    A student should avail of vaccinations when recommended during outbreak situations. This may include obtaining boosters to previously completed primary vaccination courses.

19. Overseas and Non-HSE Placements

19.1    UCC students on placement in a healthcare setting overseas or a setting that is not a HSE facility remain subject to the requirements of this policy. These placement settings may have additional ID screening and vaccination requirements and a student’s placement in these settings may be contingent on their compliance with these additional requirements.

19.2    UCC students on placement in healthcare settings outside Ireland should ensure they adhere to ID screening and vaccination requirements in place for the countries they visit. Further guidance is available at Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade - Travel Advice

20. Data Management

20.1    Data gathered from students subject to this policy that relates to their infectious risk, vaccination history, TB symptom and high-risk travel screen, results of laboratory investigations,  their ID Clearance for Placement status , and EPP clearance status are considered as special category data under GDPR. 

20.2    Student Health and UCC Schools and Departments will manage any special category data as per the UCC Data Protection Policy⁷. 

20.3    Student Health operates a principle of data minimisation and gathers and shares the minimum data needed when screening and vaccinating students under this policy.

20.4    Further detail of your rights under GDPR and how UCC Student Health manages your data under this policy are described in the UCC Student Health Infectious Disease Screening and Vaccination Policy Data Privacy Notice⁸.

21. Compliance

21.1    Compliance with the requirements of this policy helps to keep students, fellow student-colleagues, staff, and patients safe. Failure to comply with the requirements of this ID Screening and Vaccination policy and its associated procedures may impact on a student’s progression (see clause 11 above) and may be considered by Head of School as a Fitness to Practise issue. See Fitness to Practise  to access the Fitness to Practise policy.

Appendix 1: Summary of Recommended Vaccines and Immunity Standards

Appendix 1: Summary of Recommended Vaccines and Immunity Standards (Downloadable PDF)

Table 2. Summary of recommended vaccines, immunity standards and screening requirements for students.¹

1. This table does not apply to UCC Nursing and Midwifery students subject to HSE policy.
2.  Vaccinations recommended as per the National Immunisation Guidelines for Ireland (Healthcare settings, Chapter 4)¹. Students who decline vaccination or are unable to achieve and sustain adequate levels of immunity may be unable to undertake placements in certain settings such as augmented care units. This may prevent them acquiring the core competencies required to graduate from their programme and the student may be required to transfer to an alternative exit degree programme.
3. Lifelong immunity is deemed to have been attained if an anti HBs levels of ≥10mIU/ml is achieved following the recommended schedule for healthcare workers.
4. Identity Validated Sample Standard requires the student to provide Photo ID at time of blood sampling, and that the sample is taken and processed by the UCC Student Health Department.
   5.    Individuals born on or before 31/12/1978 are considered to be clinically immune to each of Measles Mumps and Rubella by virtue of likely prior exposure to the wild virus. Evidence of immunity for individuals born since 1978 is documented evidence of 2 doses of MMR, or documented evidence of having previously suffered clinical measles, mumps and rubella. In the absence of this evidence the student should be vaccinated with a lifetime total of 2 doses of MMR.
5. Students who believe they have definitely had 2 doses of MMR and who are unable to provide documentation may undergo serology testing for MMR IgG titres. Only Measles and Rubella IgG positive status are considered reliable predictors of immunity to these infections. Mumps IgG serology is not a reliable predictor of immunity to Mumps. Where any of MMR IgG serology is negative or equivocal, or in an MMR outbreak situation, vaccination of at least 2 lifetime doses of MMR is recommended.
6. BCG is not part of the routine control of Tuberculosis in some countries, e.g. US and Canada.
7. The accelerated schedule for Hepatitis B vaccination is used only where a student is likely to be undertaking an Exposure Prone Procedure within 6 months of registration. Programmes involving EPPs are Medicine, Paramedic studies, Dentistry, Dental Nursing, Dental Hygiene, and Speech and Language Therapy.
    

Appendix 2: References

1. National Immunisation Advisory Committee. (2021). The Immunisation Guidelines for Ireland.
2. HSE Pre-placement health assessment
3. Integrated Guidance on Health Clearance of Healthcare Workers and the Management of HealthCare Workers Living with Bloodborne Viruses (Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV) (PDF)
4. World Health Organization Data Tuberculosis incidence 
5. Adult Immunization Schedule Notes | Vaccines & Immunizations | CDC
6. Guidance - Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC)
7. Data Protection (General) | University College Cork
8. ID Screening and Vaccination Policy Data Privacy Notice (PDF)

Appendix 3: Student Acknowledgement

Students confirm agreement to the following text as part of their online registration procedures:
I confirm that I have read and understand the University College Cork Infectious Disease Screening and Vaccination Policy and I agree to abide by the requirements of the policy.

I confirm that I consent to the sharing of my personal ID Screening and Vaccination data and Infectious Risk status held  by UCC Student Health Department with the School/Department, the Placement setting, the HSE Public Health, UCC OCLA, and external medical service providers as described in the UCC Student Health Infectious Disease Screening and Vaccination Policy Data Privacy Notice.

I confirm that I will pay any charges levied on me by the UCC Student Health Department for screening, vaccination, or other services needed arising from my need to comply with this policy, unless exempt.

Related documents and links

UCC Student Healthcare

UCC Fitness to Practise

DFA Travel Advice

Also see Appendix 2 References  

Contact for Further Information

Dr. Michael Byrne, Head of Student Health Service

Email: m.byrne@ucc.ie

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