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Vaccination Policies Among Health Professional Schools: Evidence of Immunity and Allowance of Vaccination Exemptions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 December 2014

Samantha B. Dolan ,
Tanya E. Libby ,
Megan C. Lindley ,
Faruque Ahmed ,
John Stevenson  and
Raymond A. Strikas
Samantha B. Dolan*
Affiliation:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD), Immunization Services Division (ISD), Atlanta, GA, USA
Tanya E. Libby
Affiliation:
California Emerging Infections Program, Oakland, CA, USA
Megan C. Lindley
Affiliation:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD), Immunization Services Division (ISD), Atlanta, GA, USA
Faruque Ahmed
Affiliation:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD), Immunization Services Division (ISD), Atlanta, GA, USA
John Stevenson
Affiliation:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD), Immunization Services Division (ISD), Atlanta, GA, USA
Raymond A. Strikas
Affiliation:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD), Immunization Services Division (ISD), Atlanta, GA, USA
*
Address correspondence to Samantha Dolan, MPH, Immunization Services Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, MS A 19, Atlanta, GA 30333 (uzn7@cdc.gov).
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Abstract

OBJECTIVE

To characterize health professional schools by their vaccination policies for acceptable forms of evidence of immunity and exemptions permitted.

METHODS

Data were collected between September 2011 and April 2012 using an Internet-based survey e-mailed to selected types of accredited health professional programs. Schools were identified through accrediting associations for each type of health professional program. Analysis was limited to schools requiring ≥1 vaccine recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP): measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis B, varicella, pertussis, and influenza. Weighted bivariate frequencies were generated using SAS 9.3.

RESULTS

Of 2,775 schools surveyed, 75% (n=2,077) responded; of responding schools, 93% (1947) required ≥1 ACIP-recommended vaccination. The proportion of schools accepting ≥1 non–ACIP-recommended form of evidence of immunity varied by vaccine: 42% for pertussis, 37% for influenza, 30% for rubella, 22% for hepatitis B, 18% for varicella, and 9% for measles and mumps. Among schools with ≥1 vaccination requirement, medical exemptions were permitted for ≥1 vaccine by 75% of schools; 54% permitted religious exemptions; 35% permitted personal belief exemptions; 58% permitted any nonmedical exemption.

CONCLUSIONS

Many schools accept non–ACIP-recommended forms of evidence of immunity which could lead some students to believe they are protected from vaccine preventable diseases when they may be susceptible. Additional efforts are needed to better educate school officials about current ACIP recommendations for acceptable forms of evidence of immunity so school policies can be revised as needed.

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2014;00(0): 1–6

Type
Original Articles
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 36 , Issue 2 , February 2015 , pp. 186 - 191
Copyright
© 2014 by The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America. All rights reserved 

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