Building Immunization Standards for Health Science Students: A Proposal

1. Building Immunization Standards for Health Science Students: A Proposal Julie Fairservice BScN, Clinic Director, Campus Health Centre, McMaster University Pam Komonoski, RN Nurse Practitioner, Student Health Centre, University of Saskatchewan Patricia Mirwaldt, MD, Director Student Health Services, University of British Columbia Ben Tan, MD, FRCPC, Pediatric Infectious Disease Specialist, Royal University Hospital

2. Learning Objectives • For participants to develop knowledge of best practice immunization guidelines for Health Science students. • To implement a standardized national immunization form. • To enable participants to provide seamless service to Health Science students.

3. Background • Increase demand for immunization services • Increase in requests to complete numerous, different immunization forms for colleges across the country • Frustration…..for students and staff. Students begin to ask “Can we please have one common form?”

4. Barriers / Issues • Cost of service • Volume of Service • Acceptance of Service: Requirements vary • among faculties, clinical placement areas • and from province to province • Incomplete records • Frequency of testing • Information sharing • College Specifics

5. Immunization and Testing Recommendations Dr Tan

6. Recommendations • Canadian standard for testing and immunization • Integrated guidelines for faculties and receiving agencies • Common form - portability • Adequate resources to provide testing, immunizations and education and to track students and document results, deal with positive cases • Adequate funding to Student Health Services to manage the programme • Regular review of immunization and testing recommendations

7. Canadian Standard for Testing and Immunization • Create a proposal • Liaison with national professional education associations • Liaison with faculties , schools and training programmes • Liaison with receiving agencies ( hospitals, health authorities)

12. Resources • Expertise in immunization protocols (RN with support from MD) • Arrange for regular support from Infectious disease/ Public Health • Time to provide testing immunizations , document and educate, follow up on non compliers and significant results and call labs • $180.00 per first year student

13. Next Steps • Are we in agreement on common recommendations and form? • Who will take on roles of liaison? • Should we start substituting the common form now? • Lobby Faculties, Central Administration and Health Safety on your campus re funding