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2023-2024 Catalog

Immunization

Health Records

To comply with State legislation (Chapter 76, Section 15C, General Laws of Massachusetts) BCC has adopted the following procedures on student immunizations:

  • All health records will be confidentially maintained in the Immunization and Medical Records Office,  the Student Engagement Center.
  • Health records may include, but are not limited to, immunizations, physical exams, and physician correspondence/referrals.
  • Any request by a student for his/her health record requires a signed authorization from the student.
  • Release of any medical records to a college or contractual agency is only with the expressed approval of the student. Note, however, that immunization information (not medical history) for all Nursing and Allied Health students may be shared with the Dean of Nursing, Health and Social Sciences, Department Chair and contracted agencies to allow for clinical experiences.

State Mandated Immunizations

Depending upon a student's status, there are certain immunizations that are required in order to attend college in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. These include medical proof of immunization against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (Tdap), measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), Hepatitis B, Varicella (chicken pox) and a tuberculosis test is required for international and allied health students. If a student is obtaining antibody laboratory blood tests (titers), the laboratory report proof of immunity paperwork is required. The student is responsible for submitting documentation of his/her immunization record to the Immunization Records Office within 30 days of starting classes. Students who are not in compliance with these mandated immunizations will be unable to pre-register for classes. Nursing and Allied Health students must complete all medical requirements and a Verification of Student Health History & Physical Exam form by the deadline set by BCC in order to begin classes or clinical rotations.

International Students: All international students must provide complete immunization. This includes current tuberculosis testing (TB or chest x-ray), tetanus-diphtheria (Td or Tdap), measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), hepatitis B, varicella (chicken pox) and meningococcal: 1 dose MenACWY (formerly MCV4) required for all full-time students 21 years of age or younger. The dose of MenACWY vaccine must have been received on or after the student’s 16th birthday. Antibody laboratory blood tests (titers) must include laboratory report proof of immunity. Medical forms from doctors’ offices should include vaccinations in English.

Requirements for Nursing and Allied Health Students

In addition to the requirements listed above, students enrolled in any Nursing and Allied Health program are required to have a Verification of Student Health History & Physical Exam form. Immunization information (not medical history) for all Nursing and Allied Health students may be shared with the Dean of Nursing, Dean of STEM and Allied Health, Director of Nursing and assistant, Department Chair and contracted agencies to allow for clinical experiences. Please be advised that students enrolled in certain Health and Behavioral Sciences programs which require clinical or fieldwork study may be required by the placement affiliate agency to undergo and pass a drug screening analysis in order to be eligible. Students who either fail to pass, or refuse to submit to a drug screening analysis will be deemed ineligible for clinical placement, which may affect their status in the program. Additionally, nursing students are required to obtain laboratory evidence of immunity to varicella or medical proof of varicella, a current Tb result throughout the program, and the influenza vaccine every flu season. Nursing students are also strongly encouraged to confirm immunity to hepatitis B via a titer. Antibody blood tests (titers) must include laboratory report as proof of immunity. Please direct any questions pertaining to this policy to the office of the Dean of Nursing, Health & Social Sciences.

The regulations for each vaccine preventable disease are described below:

  • Hepatitis B: a series of three injections of vaccine given over a six-month period. If there is an interruption in the schedule, the series should not be started again. Continue with the series until all three doses have been administered. Laboratory evidence of immunity is acceptable. If there is a question of immunity, have a titer blood test drawn one month after the final vaccine has been administered. A reminder will be sent to the student from the Immunization and Medical Records Office if the series is not complete. Nursing and Allied Health students must begin the Hepatitis B series at least six months before the start of clinical rotations since these programs are under obligation of a contracted agency to provide proof of the student inoculation. Nursing students are strongly encouraged to confirm immunity via a titer.
  • MMR: 2 doses; first dose must be given on or after the 1st birthday and the 2nd dose must be given ≥28 days after dose 1; laboratory evidence of immunity acceptable. Birth in the U.S. before 1957 is acceptable only for non- health science students.
  • Tdap: 1 dose; and history of a DTaP primary series or age appropriate catch-up vaccination. Tdap given at ≥7 years may be counted, but a dose at age 11-12 is recommended if Tdap was given earlier as part of a catch- up schedule. Td should be given if it has been ≥10 years since Tdap.
  • Tuberculosis (TB): A yearly test for all Nursing and Allied Health program students as well as for any incoming international students.
    • TB tests require a reading done 48 to 72 hours after the test has been administered. If the test is not read 72 hours later, the student must redo the test. Please note that if an MMR inoculation has been administered within the last 6 weeks, a student must wait to have TB testing done as the test could result in a false positive. A TB test can be performed first without a waiting period. If a tuberculosis test result is positive, a negative chest x-ray is required. Negative chest x-rays are acceptable within the last 5 year period. If the chest x-ray is positive, a treatment schedule must accompany the result.
  • Varicella (chicken pox): 2 doses; first dose must be given on or after the 1st birthday and 2nd dose must be given ≥28 days after dose 1; a reliable history of chickenpox* or laboratory evidence of immunity acceptable. Birth in the U.S. before 1980 is acceptable only for non- health science students. Nursing students are required to obtain laboratory evidence of immunity to varicella (titer confirming immunity) or medical proof of varicella.
  • Meningococcal: 1 dose; 1 dose MenACWY (formerly MCV4) required for all full-time students 21 years of age or younger. The dose of MenACWY vaccine must have been received on or after the student’s 16th birthday. Doses received at younger ages do not count towards this requirement. Students may decline MenACWY vaccine after they have read and signed the MDPH Meningococcal Information and Waiver Form provided by their institution. Meningococcal B vaccine is not required and does not meet this requirement.

Note: BCC is required to maintain immunization records for Tdap, MMR , hepatitis B and varicella on all full-time (12 credits or more) students, all Nursing/Allied Health students (regardless of the number of credits,) and all foreign-born students (regardless of number of credits).

These vaccines may only be declined for medical or religious reasons. In the event a student declines due to religious reasons, the student must complete and file the necessary forms, which may be obtained at the Immunization and Medical Records Office. If a student is unable to receive an immunization due to medical reasons, documentation from the student's physician must be filed in the Immunization and Medical Records Office. It is also highly recommended that these students have blood testing done to show possible immunity.

If an outbreak of measles, mumps or rubella occurs, students who are not immunized will be notified by the Immunization and Medical Records Office via telephone and/or certified mail. It is then the responsibility of the student to determine whether or not to attend classes. It is advised that students update telephone numbers and addresses to assure proper notification.