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4.26.4 Vaccine Preventable Diseases

A. Purpose

To protect University patients, employees, and staff from vaccine preventable diseases.

B. Persons Affected

All University of Texas at Tyler (the "University") employees, faculty, staff, volunteers, licensed independent practitioners, contractors and staff, and clinicians in training rotating at the University from another institution, or students over eighteen (18) years of age, who will be at the University for two (2) or more weeks of the year.

C. Definitions

N/A

D. Policy

In order to protect patients, employees, staff and others from vaccine preventable diseases and to comply with state and federal laws and regulations, the University requires employees, faculty, staff, volunteers, licensed independent practitioners, contractors and staff, clinicians in training rotating at the University from another institution, and students over eighteen (18) years of age, who will be at the University for two (2) or more weeks of the year to receive required vaccines based on patient population and the current state of communicable disease within such population. For the University, this includes: measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR); tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis (Tdap); Varicella; and Influenza. In some instances, a titer may be utilized in lieu of receiving a vaccination.

The University requires proof of the following vaccines:

  1. Measles-Mumps-Rubella Immunization (MMR)
    1. Acceptable proof of immunity to measles, mumps, and rubella is one of the following:
      1. Laboratory evidence of immunity (titers) of all three (3) illnesses (measles, mumps, and rubella).
      2. Physician documentation of the diseases.
      3. Documentation showing two (2) doses of MMR vaccine, on or after the first (1st) birthday, separated by at least twenty-eight (28) days.
    2. Any person without proof of immunity to measles, mumps, and rubella is required to have serological tests (Rubeola antibody, Mumps antibody, Rubella antibody).
    3. If no or low immunity to the measles, mumps and/or rubella viruses, the following is required:
      1. Persons born during or after 1957 without any contraindications or precautions and no proof of immunity:
        1. Two (2) doses of MMR vaccine, separated by a minimum of twenty-eight (28) days between the first and second dose.
        2. A second dose of MMR vaccine to persons who have received only one (1) prior dose.
      2. Persons born before 1957 without any contraindications or precautions and no proof of immunity will receive one (1) dose of MMR vaccine.
  2. Tetanus, Diptheria, and Pertussis Immunization (Tdap)
    1. All persons are required to provide proof of immunity to Pertussis.
    2. Acceptable proof of immunity is documentation of a prior dose of Tetanus Toxoid, Reduced Diptheria Toxoid, and Acellular Pertussis Vaccine, Adsorbed (Tdap).
    3. If a person has no record of Tdap vaccine or documentation of immunity, one (1) dose of Tdap vaccine is required.
  3. Varicella Immunization (Chickenpox)
    1. All persons are required to provide proof of immunity to Varicella.
    2. Acceptable proof of immunity is one of the following:
      1. Physician documentation of chickenpox illness.
      2. Laboratory evidence of immunity (titers) to Varicella.
      3. Documentation of two (2) doses of Varicella vaccine given at least twenty-eight (28) days apart.
    3. If a person shows no or low immunity to the Varicella virus, the following is required:
      1. Two (2) doses of the vaccine, separated by a minimum of twenty-eight (28) days between the first and second dose.
      2. A second dose of varicella vaccine to persons who have received only one (1) prior dose.
  4. Influenza Immunization
    1. All persons will receive annual seasonal influenza vaccine or be formally exempted.
    2. Proof of vaccine will be provided to the Occupational Health Clinic (OHC).
    3. If an employee has not provided either an approved exemption or proof of vaccination to OHC by the last day of the Annual Flu Clinic, the employee will be placed on Leave Without Pay (LWOP) for five (5) days. If at the end of the 5 days the employee has still not provided the approved exemption or proof of vaccination, the employee may be terminated.
  5. Adverse Event

    Persons receiving vaccines who develop symptoms suggesting an adverse vaccine related event should report promptly to the clinician administering the vaccination or to OHC. If evaluation shows an adverse effect from the vaccine, a VAERS report should be submitted by the administering clinician. If necessary, the person will have appropriate work restrictions placed by OHC, according to the most current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines.

  6. Exemptions and Compliance

    A person requesting a medical exemption from any vaccine must submit the medical exemption request form (attached) fully completed and signed by his/her personal health care provider, in original form with original signatures. The OHC physician, or designee, will review the request for consistency with CDC guidelines and approve or deny the request accordingly.

    A person requesting a religious exemption or exemption for reasons of conscience must submit the appropriate exemption request form (attached) fully completed in original form with original signatures to Human Resources. Human Resources will review the request and approve or deny the request accordingly.

    Request for exemption from influenza vaccination must be made on an annual basis. A VAERS report and/or other medical record documentation will be required for a medical exemption request based on an adverse effect from a prior vaccination.

    For current University employees, OHC will verify compliance with MMR, Tdap and Varicella upon annual Quantiferon testing and upon hire for new employees. If an employee has not provided either an approved exemption or proof of MMR, Tdap and/or Varicella vaccination to OHC within sixty (60) days of notice of noncompliance, the employee will be placed on Leave Without Pay (LWOP) for five (5) days. If at the end of the 5 days the employee has still not provided the required exemption or proof of vaccination, the employee may be terminated. For other persons, compliance will be monitored by Human Resources, Medical Staff Services and/or department managers.

    Persons granted exemptions from required vaccinations will follow University procedures to protect patients and others from exposure to disease, including the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). PPE requirements will be determined by the OHC physician, or designee, and for flu vaccine exemption will include, at a minimum, the wearing of a surgical mask for the duration of the Annual Flu Season in ANY UNIVERSITY LOCATION where the exempted person has or may have face-to-face interaction with patients.

    The University will not discriminate or engage in retaliatory action against a person who is granted exemption from a required vaccine. OHC staff will notify the manager when an employee or other person is required to wear PPE due to an exemption or is out of compliance with this policy. Managers are responsible for ensuring compliance with this policy.

    During a public health disaster, the University may prohibit Covered Individuals who are exempt from required vaccines from having contact with patients.

E. Review

Nurse Manager, Outpatient

Associate Vice President of Research Compliance

Director of Environmental Health and Safety

 

APPROVED: 04/2022