Immunization Requirements for FSNH Students

UW Health Sciences Immunization Program (HSIP)

Food Systems, Nutrition, and Health Program graduate students must comply with immunization and TB screening requirements in accordance with the University of Washington’s Health Sciences Immunization Program (HSIP). HSIP follows the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) Guidelines for Healthcare Workers, which may change during a student’s enrollment. Students are required to comply with updated CDC and HSIP requirements upon enrollment and continue to meet ongoing requirements until completion of their degree program, even if those requirements change during a student’s enrollment. It is the student’s responsibility to meet any requirements of a training site that may differ from those requested by HSIP at the time of enrollment.

Each student is required to create a CastleBranch account, a web-based system where you submit immunization and TB screening records.  Students are required to comply with updated CDC and HSIP requirements as outlined in each student’s CastleBranch “To-Do List”. 

Required Immunizations

A description of the full immunization and TB screening requirements and acceptable documentation for each requirement can be found in each student’s CastleBranch “To-Do List”.  An abbreviated HSIP Requirements Checklist is available for reference.  We recommend students print a copy of the checklist to take to their healthcare provider.  In summary, each student must show proof of

• Attestation of childhood polio vaccine series and diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTaP/DTP/DT/Td) vaccine series (see instructions in CastleBranch if you have not received these vaccines)
• A completed measles/mumps/rubella (MMR) 2-dose vaccine series OR positive IgG titers for each as proof of immunity
• A completed varicella 2-dose vaccine series OR a positive varicella IgG titer as proof of immunity (history of chickenpox is not acceptable)
• A Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, AND pertussis) vaccine administered in the last 10 years OR documentation of a Tdap vaccine (after 2005) and a Td-containing vaccine within the past 10 years
• TB screening either by interferon gamma release assay (IGRA) blood test (recommended especially for students with a history of BCG vaccine) OR TWO PPD skin tests (the second must be administered between 1-3 weeks after the 1^st is read) OR for students with a previous positive TB screening test, refer to CastleBranch instructions for what to submit
• Documentation of an updated mRNA vaccine (Pfizer/Comirnaty or Moderna/Spikevax) dated on or after 9/12/2023 OR an updated Novavax vaccine dated on or after 10/03/2023 PLUS documentation of at least one additional COVID-19 vaccine. An annual fall seasonal COVID-19 vaccine is anticipated each year.
• An annual influenza vaccine administered after August of the current flu season
• Completion of BOTH a Hepatitis B vaccine series (see CastleBranch instructions for acceptable vaccine series and number of doses required) AND a Quantitative Hepatitis B Surface Antibody Titer (titer to be submitted after submission of the vaccine series)

Students must complete HSIP requirements by the due date listed in their CastleBranch account. For students in process with a vaccine series, submit proof of each vaccine dose as received to your CastleBranch account. A new action and due date will be created for the next vaccine or titer that needs to be submitted. A registration hold will result for students who are overdue on a requirement and/or a vaccine/titer within a series, regardless of whether classes are in person or online and regardless of whether you will be in a practicum that quarter. Students will not be allowed in practicums unless they are up to date with immunization requirements and/or up to date within a series in process and have completed their TB screening.

Please visit the HSIP Website for FAQs and links to the HSIP Requirements Checklist, HSIP Healthcare Resources, HSIP Policy, and an explanation of HSIP Fees.  You may contact HSIP via email at myshots@uw.edu.