M.D. Health Records - Immunizations

The Office of M.D. Health Records supports your health and wellness as you enter medical school. The office offers a variety of resources and useful information for students to ensure they are immunized prior to entering school.

How to Check Your Immunization Records

Visit Michigan Improvement Care Registry (MICR) or your local state registry to check your immunization records
- MICR: You can create a login and check your records or request an official Michigan immunization record
Tips on checking your old immunizations
Submitted immunization documenation is available to current students through their New innovations file.

Required Immunizations

As first-year medical students, immunizations are required pre-matriculation steps for all students.

Required Immmunization	Description
Tdap (Tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid and acellular pertussis vaccine)	This is a somewhat different formulation than the DTaP or DPT vaccinations that most of our students received in infancy/early childhood and it is also different than the Td (commonly "Tetanus shot") that many may have received as adolescents or adults for tetanus prophylaxis for wounds. The Tdap has the standard dose of tetanus toxoid, a reduced dose of diphtheria and an acellular booster for pertussis ("whooping cough"). With the resurgence and increasing incidence of pertussis, the CDC and other authorities have recommended that all healthcare providers who have not received a Tdap as an adult (i.e. at age 16 or older) should receive one, regardless of the time since their last Td vaccination. The hospitals in which our students participate in clinical rotations are requiring explicit documentation of the adult pertussis vaccination in order for students to be in their facilities. As such, please submit your Tdap documentation with your medical records.
TB	All students are required to provide written documentation of a Tuberculin Skin Test (TST) with the Health Certification form. Documentation must be dated within one year of matriculation. Students known to have latent TB (as evidenced by a history of a past positive TST or IGRA) must provide proof of an IGRA blood test.
Measles and Mumps	Some of the clinical sites available to students for clerkships and electives require medical students to have quantitative (IgG) measles and mumps antibody titers indicating they are immune to these infections. Therefore, the School of Medicine requires evidence of immunity. We also request documentation of two doses of these vaccinations.
Rubella	Some of the clinical sites available to students for clerkships and electives require medical students to have quantitative (IgG) rubella antibody titers indicating they are immune to this infection. Therefore, the School of Medicine requires evidence of immunity. We also request documentation of at least one dose of this vaccination.
Varicella	All students should have a quantitative (IgG) varicella antibody titer drawn to assess their immunity to this infection. If a student has a history of receiving the vaccination, we also request documentation of two doses of this vaccination. A history of having "had the disease" is not adequate documentation of immunity to varicella.
Hepatitis B	The majority of clinical sites require documentation of three doses of this vaccination and a quantitative (IgG) antibody titer (anti-HBs) indicating response to the immunizations. Therefore the School of Medicine has the same requirement. Students must have evidence of three doses and immunity to Hepatitis B. (Please note that additional blood work and potential re-vaccination will be required in the event that immunity is not documented after the primary series. Students should consult with their healthcare provider in this event.)
Covid-19 Vaccination	All students are required to receive the full COVID-19 vaccination and applicable booster. All three FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccines (Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson) will be accepted.

IMPORTANT: Quantitative (IGG) Antibody Titer reports are required for all titers

Additionally, all current students are required to receive an influenza vaccination each year that they are enrolled. This annual requirement should be completed as soon as possible after the vaccine becomes available, but no later than November 30 of each year.

Students must undergo tuberculosis (TB) screening during time periods determined by the school. Annual influenza vaccinations and TB testing will be offered by the school.

Submitting immunization information

HIPAA requires health records to be transmitted electronically through secure means.

When submitting immunization documentation, please ensure that it includes your legal name, type of immunization or bloodwork administered, and date of administration.
WSU Computing & Information Technology provides an electronic solution through the Office 365 drive that is HIPAA compliant. Procedures for sending encrypted emails
You must fill out the Health Certification Form and have the Health Assessment portion signed by a practitioner. This form will be submitted upon matriculation.

Services for students

Reviews all health certification forms required for incoming students
Reviews student health records to ensure compliance with M.D. program health standards
Coordinates annual TB testing and influenza vaccination clinics

For more information on the coverage for required immunizations under the School of Medicine's insurance plans, visit the Required Immunization and Diagnostic Student Health Care Coverage document. If you have health insurance outside of the student health plans, please contact your insurance provider for coverage options.

Victoria Worthington, MSW
MD Health Records, Program/Project Assistant II
Email contact: MDHealthRecords@wayne.edu
Phone contact: 313-577-0357
Office location: Mazurek 322.13

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MD Health Records FAQ

How long after my last dose of a vaccination series do I wait before undergoing a titer?
4-6 weeks
Where can I review the CDC’s recommended vaccines for healthcare workers?
For information on the CDC Recommended Vaccines for Healthcare Workers, see the CDC website.
Why are quantitative titers required?
There are two major types of Hepatitis B Surface Antibody (HBsAB) Tests:
- Quantitative assays are designed to yield an exact antibody level in international units per milliliter (IU/ml). The CDC and World Health Organization recommended that HbsAB level >10 IU/ml to determine if someone is immune to Hepatitis B.
- Qualitative (i.e., present or absent) and Quantitative (specific standardized antibody level). Although both assays are testing for HbsAB, they are not interchangeable.
  
  Qualitative assays for HBsAB are positive when the result is greater than 5 IU/ml. Rather than reporting actual measurements the results are simply reported as positive or negative. A qualitative assay would therefore report a value of 5 IU/ml as positive. Because a positive qualitative assay cannot distinguish if the result is greater than 10 IU/ML, they cannot be used to determine immunity in healthcare workers. Qualitative testing is reserved for the determination of prior infection with Hepatitis B.
Classes start in July and I missed the November 30 flu shot deadline. Do I need the shot before I can start?
No, the flu shot season is from October to March of each year. Thus, you will only need a flu shot for each year that you are enrolled during flu shot season.
What happens if I receive a positive TB test?
After receiving a positive TB test result, you should obtain a chest x-ray, as per School of Medicine Policy, to ensure that there is not an active infection in the lungs. If the chest x-ray is clear and you are not having symptoms, chances are there is a latent TB infection.
Is there a health center on campus?
Yes, the Campus Health Center is located at 5285 Anthony Wayne Dr. Suite 115 Detroit, MI 48202. Visit their website for more information on the services that they provide.
I do not have access to my vaccine records, what do I do?
First, check with your primary care provider to obtain your vaccine history. Places you attended, such as schools, work, or the military may also have your vaccine records on file. If your vaccines were completed in Michigan, you can obtain an immunization record through the Michigan Care Improvement Registry. Other states, and Canada, typically have a similar registry that you can obtain your vaccination history from.
Do I need to do a TB blood test, or can I have a TB skin test instead?
Either test is acceptable. The TB blood test is preferred if you come from an area where vaccination with BCG is done in childhood since this can in some cases result in a false positive TB skin test.
I had chicken pox as a child, do I still need the vaccine?
If you have a history of having had chicken pox, you will still need to obtain a varicella titer showing immunity.
Does Td or DTaP fulfill the Tdap requirement?
No, a Tdap vaccination within the last 10 years is still required.
What if I need an exemption form?
Exemption forms for the COVID-19 requirement(PDF) should be completed and filed through the Campus Health Center. Individuals may also apply online for a waiver of the influenza requirement(PDF) based on legitimate health or religious reasons. These requests will be reviewed by the Campus Health Committee on main campus. MD Health Records does not grant exemptions unless pre-approved by main campus. If an exemption is granted, the student should provide MD Health Records with the proper approval documentation from the Campus Health Center.
Can the MD Health Records just call my doctor’s office to get the required documentation?
Due to HIPAA regulations, MD Health Records is unable to obtain a student’s records from their care provider. This includes the Campus Health Center. According to the M.D. Handbook, “It is ultimately the student’s responsibility to retain and produce copy of all documentation related to their immunization.”
Will Wayne State reimburse me for the cost for getting my immunizations completed?
The cost of immunization requirements is the responsibility of the student, and we are unable to reimburse you for the cost. The immunizations are a part of your matriculation into medical school and your enrollment depends on having submitted the proper immunization documents.