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.
Required Immunizations
As first-year medical students, immunizations are required pre-matriculation steps for all students. When completing the requirements, consider reviewing the Immunization Checklist.
| Required Immunization | Due Date | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tdap (Tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid and acellular pertussis vaccine) | Upon Matriculation Renewed every 10 years | 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. This is a 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”). As such, please submit your documentation of Tdap within the last to 10 years with your medical records. DTaP, DPT, and Td are not sufficient to meet this requirement. | |
| TB Test (Tuberculosis) | Upon Matriculation Yearly symptom screening | All students are required to provide written documentation of a two-step Tuberculin Skin Test (TST) or TB blood test (IGRA) 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. | |
| MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) | Upon Matriculation | The School of Medicine will require all students to undergo quantitative (IgG) antibody titers for Measles, Mumps, and Rubella. If the quantitative antibody titers do not demonstrate immunity, students will also have to submit documentation of previous vaccination against MMR. If not previously vaccinated, the student should complete a vaccination series and upload documentation. | |
| Varicella (Chickenpox) | Upon Matriculation | All students must provide either (1) written documentation of vaccination with 2 doses of Varicella vaccine, or (2) laboratory evidence of immunity (through quantitative IgG titers) or (3) laboratory confirmation of disease. A history of having "had the disease" is not adequate documentation of immunity to varicella. | |
| Hepatitis B | Upon Matriculation | 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 two or 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 | Upon Matriculation | Students are required to submit either (1) 2 doses of COVID-19 vaccination (Pfizer/Moderna/Novavax), (2) one dose of Johnson & Johnson and a booster, OR (3) one Bivalent booster. | |
| Influenza (Flu) | Yearly (September-November) | All current students are required to receive an influenza vaccination each year that they are enrolled. This annual requirement should be completed after September 1st, but no later than November 30 of each year. Annual influenza vaccinations will be offered by the school. | |
| TB Screener (Tuberculosis) | Yearly (January) | Students must undergo tuberculosis (TB) screening during time periods determined by the school. This short questionnaire will be completed and submitted through CastleBranch. |
IMPORTANT: Quantitative (IGG) Antibody Titer reports are required for all titers. For examples of acceptable titer results, please view the Hepatitis B Sample Titer and MMR Sample Titer.
Submitting immunization information
- Immunization documentation will not be accepted via email. Instead, students will be required to upload their documentation to their Castle Branch file.
- Incoming students will receive access to Castle Branch prior to the first day of class.
- When submitting immunization documentation, please ensure that it includes your legal name, type of immunization or bloodwork administered, and date of administration.
- HIPAA requires health records to be transmitted electronically through secure means. WSU Computing & Information Technology provides an electronic solution through the Office 365 drive that is HIPAA compliant. Procedures for sending encrypted emails
How to Check Your Immunization Records
- Visit Michigan Improvement Care Registry (MICR) or your local state registry to check your immunization records for your state
- MICR: You can create a login and check your records or request an official Michigan immunization record
- Current Students: Previously submitted immunization documentation is available through New innovations. All future yearly requirements will be submitted, tracked, and stored in Castle Branch.
Services for students
- Reviews all immunization documentation required for incoming students
- Reviews student immunization requirements to ensure compliance with clinical facilities' standards
- Coordinates annual TB testing and influenza vaccination clinics
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
MD Health Records FAQ
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How long after my last dose of a vaccination series do I wait before undergoing a titer?
4-6 weeks
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Does Td or DTaP fulfill the Tdap requirement?
No, a Tdap vaccination within the last 10 years is still required.
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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.”
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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.