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Student Immunization

Student Immunization Requirements

The University of Tennessee and the State of Tennessee require certain immunizations be obtained for enrollment/registration purposes. All admitted students will receive an immunization hold which must be cleared for students to be registered for courses.

All immunization records must be submitted to Qualified First for verification. Once verified, immunization holds can be lifted.

Information on how to submit your immunization records to Qualified First will be sent to admitted students from their program. You must have the program specific code for your incoming class to upload your records.  Contact your program of study if you do not have this code.

Immunizations records will need to be submitted to your Qualified First/Verified Credentials account. Your program will provide you with a special code to use.

For questions regarding immunizations or Qualified First, email immune@uthsc.edu. 

Required Immunizations

MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) Series

You must provide documentation showing you have had the two-shot MMR series, OR you must provide documentation showing a positive titer.

NOTE: A "positive titer" provides verification that you have antibodies present in your system that indicate you (1) have had the disease or (2) have been vaccinated "successfully" against the disease. In either case, a positive titer indicates that you are unlikely to get the disease a second time. Documentation of measles as a child does NOT meet the requirement.

 Varicella Series

You must provide documentation showing you have had a two-vaccination Varicella series (aka Var or Chicken Pox), OR you must provide documentation showing you have a positive (immune) titer.

NOTE: Documentation of chicken pox as a child does NOT meet the requirement.

Tetanus/Diphtheria/Pertussis Shot

You must provide documentation showing you have had an adult TDAP (Tetanus/Diphtheria/Pertussis Shot) within the past 10 years.

NOTE: DTAP is not acceptable (this is a childhood vaccine). TD is not acceptable. If your TDAP is older than 10 years, you must get a TDAP Does (nota Tetanus booster).

Hepatitis B Series

The Hepatitis B immunization series and a recent positive titer are required of all students. If you have completed the Hepatitis B series, you must also provide proof of immunity by titer.

If you have a negative titer, you must receive an additional 3 doses of the Hep B vaccine and a repeat titer. The 2 dose booster series is approved to meet the requirement. 2-dose HepB vaccine series only applies when both doses consist of HepB-CpG. You have 1 academic year to repeat the series but must start it before enrollment at UTHSC.

You are only considered a non-responder when you have had 3 doses, a negative titer, 2 or 3 additional doses and a second negative titer. If you have a negative titer, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends no further shots if the titer is negative. You are only considered a non-responder when you have had 3 doses, a negative titer, 2 or the 3 additional doses and a second negative titer. 

NOTE: The College of Dentistry requires that prior to any student/trainee (including Doctor of Dentistry, Dental Hygiene and Residents) having patient contact, the student/trainee shall present proof of protection against hepatitis B. There are no exemptions for religious or other personal preferences.

 

Polio Series

You must provide documentation showing you have had the polio series or a titer showing immunity.

Tuberculosis (TB) Skin Test

All UTHSC students are required to have documentation of tuberculosis screening completed within 3 months prior to their start date.

  • New students may elect to have a tuberculin skin test (TST) or interferon-gamma ray assay (IGRA) test.
  • Students who have been vaccinated with the Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) and do not have a history of a positive tuberculosis screening are required to have screening through a blood assay to determine screening status.
  • Students with a positive tuberculosis screen will need to provide documentation of a negative chest x-ray AND an absence of symptoms evaluation by their healthcare provider. Both documents must be dated within 3 months prior to enrollment start date.

All UTHSC students are required to have tuberculosis screening annually.

Influenza Vaccine

College of Pharmacy Students

If you are a College of Pharmacy student, you must provide documentation showing you have had a flu shot every year. Entering Pharmacy students are not required to provide documentation of the influenza vaccine until the fall flu season.

Physician Assistant Students

If you are a Physician Assistant Student, you must provide documentation showing you have had a flu shot every year. Entering Physician Assistant Students must provide documentation of influenza vaccine at time of admission to the Spring semester during fall flu season.

Other Programs

Students in other colleges are required to get a flu shot.

UTHSC provides flu shots for the entire campus at the annual Flu Shot Day in the fall at no cost.

Meningococcal Vaccine (Optional, except for Clinical Laboratory Science students)

If you are a Clinical Laboratory Science student, you must provide documentation showing you have had the Meningitis Vaccine.


Immunization Exemptions:

For religious exemptions, complete the immunization exemption form and email to oac-hsc@uthsc.edu. For medical exemptions, please complete this form and provide proper documents to support.

Other Requirements

(1) All students admitted into a college of medicine, a college of nursing, a college of pharmacy, a college of dentistry, or any allied health professions program must also have the following vaccinations in accordance with current Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines, subject to immunization exemptions: (a) Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis {Tdap); (b) MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella); (c) Varicella; (d) Polio; (e) Tuberculosis; (f) Influenza; (g) Hepatitis B; (h) Any other immunization recommended for healthcare personnel as issued by the CDC; and (i) Any other vaccination as dictated by the specific clinical program in which the student is enrolled.

(2) The University may require students to provide proof of immunization for any other vaccination recommended by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) or the Tennessee Department of Health. If the University requires any immunizations under this section, the University shall establish a timeframe for providing proof of such immunization to the University.

(3) For the purpose of 1720-01-17-.07, the University may determine that no exception to immunization requirements will be granted under the following circumstances: Authority: (a) In the professional and academic judgment of the applicable college or program, the risk to patient and/or student safety outweighs the need for an exemption; or (b) A clinical/experiential training site does not allow for an exemption to a specific immunization requirement and the training is fundamental to the academic program. T.C.A. § 49-7-124(g); T.C.A. § 49-9-209(e).

Important Note

All entering students must complete the steps above and submit their official immunization documentation before any holds are lifted.

It is very important that you frequently check your immunizations within your Qualified First account throughout your entire enrollment at UTHSC. All student immunizations must be up to date for enrollment/registration for each semester at UTHSC, and proof of immunizations or immunity is required.


UHS is available to administer any required immunizations and perform laboratory studies to meet immunization requirements.


To schedule vaccine appointments at University Health Services please contact:.

University Health Services
910 Madison Avenue, Suite 922
Memphis, TN  38163

Appointments: 901.448.5630
Emergency After Hours: 901.541.5654
Fax: 901.448.7255
Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Closed from 1:00 to 2:00 pm for lunch
Wednesday hours: 8:00 am - 1:00 pm

Aug 27, 2024