The College of Medicine School of Physician Assistant Studies (COM SPAS) has a long-standing commitment to protect the health and well-being of students, faculty, staff, patients and the general public. Students in COM SPAS required to provide documentation (or appropriate immunity) and health screening in order to matriculate and participate in patient care. In addition, COM SPAS offers educational programming to assist students in the attainment and maintenance of optimal physical and mental health.
The COM SPAS strongly recommends COVID vaccination for a student to matriculate into our program; however, we do not make the decisions regarding COVID vaccination for our clinical education partners. Direct patient care is a required component of our education. At UF we have a robust program with practice partners all over the state providing high quality clinical experiences. Each institution determines requirements for student trainees rotating through their establishments. These requirements may include, but are not limited to, background checks, onboarding paperwork, and proof of vaccinations beyond what is required by the COM SPAS. Our practice partners have long required flu vaccination for students, as well as TB clearance, and many of our clinical site partners require COVID vaccination for medical trainees. This currently includes UF Health and the Veterans Administration Health Systems. Requests for exemptions, either medical or religious, are handled by the practice site, not the College of Medicine, according to each institutions’ policies and procedures.
University of Florida students shall be required to show documentation of specific vaccinations or proof of immunity as set forth in Florida statutes 1006.69, Florida Board of Governors Regulations Chapter 6 as well as recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (CDC).
STUDENT HEALTH AND IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENTS
Documentation of the following immunizations and screening are required prior to matriculation. It is the student’s responsibility to keep their immunizations and screenings updated as needed. All blood tests (titers, interferon-based TB) must be accompanied by the lab report.
- University of Florida COM SPAS Health Agreement form
- Proof of current health insurance meeting the coverage requirements
- Health Professions health history form as provided by UF Health Compliance/Student HealthCare Center (SHCC)
- Submitted to the SHCC and to Exxat
Required Immunization Documentation: Students should submit documentation of these immunizations to the UF Health Compliance Student Self-Service portal and Exxat. Instructions will be sent to the incoming class yearly.
- Two MMR vaccinations (measles, mumps, rubella) or serologic tests that confirm immunity to each of these three viral infections
- Hepatitis B vaccine series – completion of the vaccination series within the last two months, requires serologic proof of immunity (i.e., a positive serum titer for hepatitis antibody).
- Two varicella vaccinations or a serologic test that confirms immunity
- Tdap vaccination (tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis)
- Vaccination for meningococcal infection or documentation that you opted out of this vaccination
- One tuberculin skin test OR one interferon-based TB test (QuantiFERON-Gold or T-spot assays) within the last 12 months
- If you previously received the BCG vaccination, an interferon-based TB test is preferred
- If you have ever had a positive tuberculin skin test, you must obtain either an interferon-based test or documentation of a negative chest x-ray within three months of the start of school. Positive interferon-based tests also require a negative chest x-ray within three months.
- Seasonal influenza vaccination in the fall of each year
- Proof of Covid-19 vaccination is strongly recommended
HEALTH AND DISABILITY INSURANCE
COM SPAS requires all UF PA students to be covered by major medical insurance. It is not sufficient for the student to seek care through the Student Health Care Center; the SHCC can offer only primary outpatient care. Insurance may be acquired through a family major medical policy, through a private insurance agency, or by purchasing the University of Florida Student Government Health Insurance. The insurance plan should offer comprehensive coverage in Gainesville and Alachua County, and not simply at a distant city/county/state. Students must realize that medical expenses for care provided by UF Health Shands Hospital System and hospitals affiliated with the College of Medicine, including laboratory procedures and emergency care, are the responsibility of the student and not the COM SPAS or the University. Coverage should also include maternity benefits and coverage for an occupational injury that might put the individual at risk for a bloodborne infection such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, or HIV infection.
The COM SPAS also encourages all medical students to acquire disability insurance, to provide protection in the event of a long-term illness or injury.