Learner Vaccination Exemption Policy

Policy Owner: Associate Dean for Academic Affairs

Policy Contact: Associate Dean for Academic Affairs

POLICY STATEMENT

School of Dentistry learners must comply with all University of Minnesota Academic Health Sciences vaccination and immunization requirements (see Vaccination and Immunization Requirements for Learners in the Health Sciences in the Related Information section below).  Learners must complete the vaccination and immunization requirements prior to their program start date and maintain compliance through the length of their program, even if those requirements change during a student’s enrollment. 

Medical and non-medical exemption requests may be submitted for the annual influenza and SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) vaccinations.

Individual learners may request exemptions from core vaccinations for documented medical reasons only.  Exemptions to core vaccinations are generally not granted because it is very challenging to find training sites that allow exemptions from core vaccinations.

Core immunizations refers to:

• Measles (rubeola), mumps and rubella (two doses), or positive titer,
• Diphtheria/Tetanus (Td or Tdap) dose in the last ten (10) years,
• Chicken pox (varicella) series, or positive titer,
• Pertussis later than 2005,
• Hepatitis B series or documented immunity,
• Evidence of negative baseline tuberculosis screening within twelve months prior to the program start date. Learners are compliant with either a negative interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) or a negative Two-Step tuberculosis skin test (TST). Placements must be within 12 months of each other and 7 days or more apart. If the IGRA or Two-Step TST is positive, a normal chest x-ray dated after the positive TB test is required).

Training sites outside the University of Minnesota may have other vaccination requirements in addition to what is required by the University of Minnesota Academic Health Sciences vaccination and immunization requirements. Failure to meet a training site's vaccination requirements (or obtain an exemption from the site) will prevent a student from being placed at the training site, which may impact the learner's ability to progress towards graduation.

REASON FOR POLICY

This policy applies to all learners (“learners” in this policy and accompanying procedures will be used to refer to all students, residents, fellows and interns) within University of Minnesota School of Dentistry. Compliance with the policy and completion of the stated requirements fosters the safety of patients, learners, faculty, staff, and visitors in the School of Dentistry. This policy also ensures students enrolled in School of Dentistry programs comply with the requirements detailed in the University’s affiliation agreements with clinical and Outreach training sites.

PROCEDURES

Medical Exemption

To request a medical exemption for one or more vaccination, please follow the directions outlined in the links below:

• Medical exemption for influenza vaccination
• Medical exemption for core immunization
• Medical exemption for SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) vaccination: The learner must schedule an appointment with their medical provider in order to document the medical declination, and obtain a signed letter stating the medical rationale. This letter should be emailed to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.

Non-Medical Exemption

The learner must complete the form via this link and email it to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. A meeting with the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs must be scheduled to discuss the accommodations necessary before the exemption approval.

FORMS/INSTRUCTIONS 

There are no forms associated with this policy.

APPENDICES

There are no appendices associated with this guideline.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

There is no FAQ associated with this policy.

RESPONSIBILITIES

N/A

RELATED INFORMATION

Vaccination and Immunization Requirements for Learners in the Health Sciences

HISTORY

• Approving Body:
• Date Approved:
• Date Amended:

CONTACTS