Health screening and vaccinations

For all professional health courses within the School of Science, Technology and Health, students will need to undergo Health Care Worker (HCW) clearance.

The School follows UK Health Security Agency best practice, which can be found in the Government's Green Book. 

Students must have health clearance before attending placement so that: 

• Health care students are protected by immunisation from acquiring blood borne viruses from patients, and
• Patients are protected from the risk of acquiring blood borne diseases from students on health courses.

Vaccines are therefore required in order for health students to attend placement and students may not be able to attend a placement setting without reaching the required level of vaccines for that area. This is to protect both students and service users.

Part 1: Course Clearance

As part of your offer to study on a health course, you will be initially assessed as medically suitable to begin the course. This is called Course Clearance.

Once you have Course Clearance, this means you are fit to begin your chosen course. Course Clearance may be dependent on any pre-existing medical conditions and will be given after a thorough review of your completed pre-course questionnaire. If necessary, an Occupational Health practitioner will compile a report to the University (with your consent) advising of any medical conditions you have and any advice regarding potential adjustments.

Part 2: Placement Clearance

Part two of the health screening process involves evidencing your vaccination and immunity status. Once you have had the minimum number of vaccinations, blood tests and infection tests (for example EPP) required for your placement, you will be given Placement Clearance. This means you are fit to start your placement. You will receive notification by email once you have received Placement Clearance. The University will also be notified.

Certain types of immunisations require more than one vaccine, and you should continue your immunisation schedule until you have completed all of your vaccinations, even if you have received placement clearance. More details of the types of vaccination evidence that are acceptable are given in the Vaccination evidence section below. 

York Medical Group

As a student at York St John University, it is highly recommended that students register with York Medical Group (YMG) as a patient. This can be done through the York Medical Group website. Students can register with YMG as a temporary patient and retain their own GP at home. The sooner you register, the sooner we can begin checking your immunity.

The University will offer students on professional health courses vaccination opportunities that meet the requirements of the specific programme area, if students are not already immune. Clinics will normally take place during the first few weeks of your course. The nurse from YMG will normally attend a session in Welcome Week to explain the process, and answer any questions. Missing appointments can cause major delays, and you may have to wait weeks or months for a new slot. It is therefore essential to attend appointments scheduled for you, as failure to do so could impact your ability to go on placement and therefore your progression through the course.

If an appointment, blood test or vaccination is refused and/or contraindicated, the reasons for refusal will be documented and any associated risks/restrictions regarding your course of study or placement must be discussed with your Professional Course Lead.

Vaccination evidence

The process of gathering information about your vaccination status begins before you become a student at York St John University as part of the university admissions process. You will have been asked to provide information to the University's Occupational Health provider, who oversees both Course Clearance and Placement Clearance.

If you have previously been given any of the required vaccines, you will need to provide evidence. The evidence must clearly display your name, date of birth, the vaccinations or blood test results, and the date of administration.

Evidence can be in the form of:

• A printed record from your GP (you may need to request this in advance from your GP so please allow at least 2 weeks for this). Alternatively, you may be able to obtain your vaccination record online, if your GP offers this service.
• Vaccination card (for example if you have been vaccinated at a travel clinic).
• Immunity records from previous Occupational Health organisations (please note this should also include name, date of birth, vaccinations, blood test results and the dates of administration, plus the name and address of the Occupational Health organisation).
• A copy of your childhood immunisation red book.

The above evidence can either be scanned and uploaded as part of your pre-course questionnaire or emailed to the Occupational Health provider. If evidence cannot be provided, then you may be required to undertake a blood test to check for immunity levels and/or have further vaccinations.

Please note that this evidence is a vital part of the placement clearance process and you will not be cleared for placement without the necessary proof required. By not providing proof of immunisation, you will be delaying the clearance process and potentially your ability to start the placement. 

Important deadlines

All Health students are expected to complete their health clearance and receive placement clearance before commencement of your first placement.

Once you have been given clearance you will be notified by the University's Occupational Health Provider. A copy will also be shared with the University. Failure to obtain clearance in time means you may not be allowed to attend clinical placements.

Immunisations for Health Care Worker Clearance

Students will be advised prior to commencing the programme what vaccinations are required in order to obtain Placement Clearance. In general, the immunisations required for Health Care Worker (HCW) clearance are as follows:

• Hepatitis B (i.e 3 x Hepatitis B Vaccines followed by an immunity blood test and possibly a booster)
• Measles and Rubellla (i.e. 2 x documented MMR vaccines or serology immunity report confirming immunity for measles and rubella
• Varicella (chickenpox) (i.e. 2 x documented varicella vaccines or serology immunity report confirming immunity for varicella
• Tetanus (advisory)

Student Health Care Worker Clearance and EPPs

Exposure Prone Procedures (EPPs) are those procedures where the worker's gloved hands may be in contact with sharp instruments, needle tip or sharp tissues (for example, bone or teeth) inside a patient's open body cavity or wound, where the hands or fingertips may not be completely visible at all times.

EPPs do not include: taking blood, setting up and maintaining IV lines or central lines, minor surface suturing, the incision of external abscesses, simple endoscopic procedures, and normal delivery of neonates. Student HCWs who perform EPPs should be vaccinated as per above, and also screened for Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV infection.