Immunization Requirements

Health & Immunization Requirements

All Saints University College of Medicine St. Vincent and the Grenadines values and prioritizes the health of all students, faculty, staff, and patients who receive healthcare from our clinical faculty and students.  Medical students are at risk of exposure to infectious diseases in the course of their clinical work.  As such, certain tests and immunizations are required of all students prior to matriculation into the program and before starting their clinical clerkship.  

All students entering the Doctor of Medicine degree program are required to complete a Student Health History form and provide documentation of all required immunizations and a physical examination by a Healthcare Professional prior to matriculation and prior to clinical clerkship. The form must be signed by a healthcare provider and returned to the Office of Admissions prior to matriculation.   

Students will not be allowed to register or participate in any clinical activities until the Health History and Immunization forms are completed and on file.  Students re-enrolling after one year of attendance lapse or students who are re-admitted into the program are required to submit updated medical history, physical examination, and immunization records. 

Entering Students

HEALTH HISTORY FORMHealth History Form: 

The Health History and Immunization Form must be submitted by all students at the point of application to the program.   The Health History form provides an overview of your health status and past medical history and allows the relevant department to provide the service and care to meet your health care needs.   The information is submitted to the Office of Admissions as part of the application process, reviewed by the Admissions Committee and all records are maintained by the Office of the Registrar.  All medical information is strictly confidential and cannot be released without your authorization except in cases of medical emergency.   

If a student has a diagnosed medical condition that requires either academic or non-academic accommodations, he/she must contact the Office of the Dean of Student Affairs to discuss their case and receive further guidance on the steps to follow.  

REQUIRED IMMUNIZATION: 

Documentation for the following immunizations and tests is required prior to matriculation for all entering students.  The Premedical and Basic Medical Science phase of the MD program are conducted on campus in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.  The immunization policies provide coverage for both Healthcare workers and Immigration requirements for all persons entering St. Vincent and the Grenadines.   

  • Mumps, Measles and Rubella (MMR): 

    • All students born after January 1st, 1957 are required to provide proof of immunization against Mumps, Measles (Rubeola) and Rubella (German Measles), either by having been vaccinated against all 3 disease (combined vaccine MMR or individual vaccinations against the 3 diseases) or showing laboratory evidence of immunity to all 3 diseases.  
    • A record of 2 MMR vaccines  
      • Dose 1 – at 12 months of age or older 
      • Dose 2 – at least one month after dose 1.  
    • Positive serological tests/Antibody titer for immunity to Mumps, Measles and Rubella 
    • History of disease is not acceptable.   
    • A copy of the lab report must be attached. 
    • A 3rd Dose of MMR vaccination may be advised in areas of regional outbreaks of Mumps or Measles, if original vaccination was received in Childhood. 

  • Hepatitis B:
      
    • A record of Hepatitis B vaccine series (3 doses total): an initial dose, followed by a dose 1-2 months after the first and a final dose at 6 months after the first dose.  
    • If series is complete, a quantitative Hepatitis B Surface Antibody (HBsAb) titer must be done at least 3 weeks after the last dose. 
    • If Hepatitis B Surface Antibody titer is negative (<10 IU/mL), please obtain a booster dose and repeat the titer 1-2 months later.   
    • A copy of the lab report must be attached.  

  • Tetanus/Diphtheria/Pertussis: 
    • Basic primary series of 3 doses of Diphtheria and Tetanus Toxoid.  
    • One dose of adult Tdap (Tetanus/Diphtheria/Pertussis). 
    • If last Tdap is more than 10 years ago, then a Tetanus Diphtheria (Td) booster dose is also required.  
    • A Td booster shot is required every 10 years after the basic primary series has been completed.  

  • Varicella: 

    • Documentation of 2 doses of varicella vaccine, at least one-month apart OR 
    • Positive serological test for immunity to Varicella (chicken pox) only if a history of chickenpox disease.  History of disease alone is not acceptable.  
    • A copy of the lab report must be attached.  

  • Polio: 
    • Two (2) doses of IPV or 
    • One (1) dose adult IPV booster for persons who received oral polio vaccine as a child.  

  • Tuberculosis (TB): 
    • Testing for Tuberculosis is required prior to enrollment. 
    • Annual TB education and TB Screening for symptoms must be done.  
    • Documentation of BCG vaccine does not preclude testing for TB. 
    • A 2-StepTuberculin Skin Test (TST) / MANTOUX skin test that is no more than 3 months prior to the beginning of classes.  Results must be recorded in millimeters (mm) of induration and transverse diameter.  
      • Two step PPD’s should be separated by 1-3 weeks, but, can be separated by up to a year. If you have had a negative PPD in the last year, please record it as your step 1, and obtain another PPD to count as your step 2.   
    • Positive test result: 
      • Persons with a previous positive TST or BCG vaccination should have both a chest X-ray and a blood test (IGRA test either Tspot blood test or QuantiFERON TB Gold test) to test for latent TB. 
        • Entering students with a positive PPD (current or previous) are required to have a negative chest X-ray.  
    • Accompanying Physician report stating that the student does not have a communicable disease/infection if the student has a positive test or a history of positive test result.   
    • Physician report must accompany the TB test report. 
       
  • COVID-19 Vaccine: 
    • Any COVID-19 vaccine approved by the FDA for use. To date, the following vaccines has been approved by the FDA for use against COVID-19.  These are accepted for students traveling to both St. Vincent and all clinical sites. 
      • Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine 
      • Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine 
      • Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) 
      • AstraZeneca – Oxford AstraZeneca (Vaxzevria), COVISHIELD, AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine by SK Bioscience 

    • The Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines also recognizes the following vaccines for persons traveling to St. Vincent: 
      • Gamalaya (Sputnik V, Gam-Covid-Vac) 
      • Cuban COVID-19 Vaccine – Abdala, Soberana  

OPTIONAL IMMUNIZATIONS

  • Hepatitis A  
    • Two (2) doses 

  • Influenza 
    • One (1) dose 

  • Meningococcal (meningitis) 
    • One (1) dose 

  • Human Papillomavirus  
    • Three (3) doses 
    • This is for females only. 

  • Flu Shot
    • Once per year during flu season. 

Clinical Students

Prior to starting the clinical clerkship, students are responsible for ensuring that their immunizations are up to date.  The immunization requirements may vary by hospital and location of the clerkship.  It is the responsibility of each student to ensure that s/he meets the immunization requirements of the hospitals where the clerkship rotations are to be done.  Proof of immunity as outlined below, must be sent to the Clinical Department prior to start of clinical rotations at the hospitals: 

  • Immunization and Serology for:

    • Hepatitis B 
    • Mumps, Measles and Rubella (MMR) 
    • Varicella

  • Immunization for:
     
    • Polio 
    • Td or Tdap within the past 10 years 

    • Tuberculosis Test  

  • Some jurisdictions may request for proof of negative HIV titer.

  • COVID-19 Vaccine
     
    • Currently the following Vaccine Brands are accepted.
      • Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine 
      • Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine
      • Janssen (Johnson & Johnson)
      • AstraZeneca – Oxford AstraZeneca (Vaxzevria), COVISHIELD, AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine by SK Bioscience 

    • The following are not yet approved worldwide and may not be accepted at the clinical sites. 
      • Gamalaya (Sputnik V, Gam-Covid-Vac) 
      • Cuban COVID-19 Vaccine – Abdala, Soberana 

    • Negative PCR Test 
    • Some hospitals and clinics may require additional immunizations, status pertaining to other communicable diseases, as determined by the hospital, or more recent and updated results as provided by the student. The student is required to submit the additional documentation, as requested, prior to proceeding with their rotations.    

Recommended Immunization for Immigration

Yellow Fever: As per immigration guidelines, a yellow fever vaccination certificate is required for entry to St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Jamaica for persons coming from a country with risk of yellow fever transmission.  It is recommended that persons traveling from the following countries carry their yellow fever vaccination certificate to provide to the immigration officer if requested to do so.    

  • Countries with risk of yellow fever transmission: 

    • AFRICA – Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Sudan, Togo, Uganda. 
    • AMERICAS – Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela. 

Vaccination Waiver

A vaccination waiver can be issued by your medical practitioner if the vaccine is contraindicated for medical reasons.   If you have a medical contraindication to the immunization requirements, you are required to submit a letter/report from your physician explaining your contraindication.  The letter must be signed by both you and your healthcare provider.   It is important to be aware that problems may arise when traveling and crossing borders and the vaccination waiver may not be honoured.  

Please note that the Tuberculosis Screening requirement for students from TB endemic countries cannot be declined.