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CHAPTER 97 COMMUNICABLE DISEASES
SUBCHAPTER B IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENTS IN TEXAS ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS AND INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION
RULE §97.64 Required Vaccinations for Students Enrolled in Health-related and Veterinary Courses in Institutions of Higher Education
(a) Students enrolled in (non-veterinary) health-related courses. This section applies to all students enrolled in health-related higher education courses which will involve direct patient contact with potential exposure to blood or bodily fluids in educational, medical, or dental care facilities.
(b) Vaccines Required. Students must have all of the following vaccinations before they may engage in the course activities described in subsection (a) of this section:
(1) Tetanus-Diphtheria Vaccine. Students must show receipt of one dose of tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis vaccine (Tdap). In addition, one dose of a tetanus-containing vaccine must have been received within the last ten years. Td vaccine is an acceptable substitute, if Tdap vaccine is medically contraindicated.
(2) Measles, Mumps, and Rubella Vaccines.
(A) Students born on or after January 1, 1957, must show, prior to patient contact, acceptable evidence of vaccination of two doses of a measles-containing vaccine administered since January 1, 1968 (preferably MMR vaccine).
(B) Students born on or after January 1, 1957, must show, prior to patient contact, acceptable evidence of vaccination of two doses of a mumps vaccine.
(C) Students must show, prior to patient contact, acceptable evidence of one dose of rubella vaccine.
(3) Hepatitis B Vaccine. Students are required to receive a complete series of hepatitis B vaccine prior to the start of direct patient care.
(4) Varicella Vaccine. Students are required to have received two doses of varicella (chickenpox) vaccine.
(c) Limited Exceptions:
(1) Notwithstanding the other requirements in this section, a student may be provisionally enrolled in these courses if the student has received at least one dose of each specified vaccine prior to enrollment and goes on to complete each vaccination series as rapid as medically feasible in accordance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Recommended Adult Immunization Schedule as approved by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). However, the provisionally enrolled student may not participate in coursework activities involving the contact described in subsections (a) and/or (d) of this section until the full vaccination series has been administered.
(2) Students, who claim to have had the complete series of a required vaccination, but have not properly documented them, cannot participate in coursework activities involving the contact described in subsections (a) and/or (d) of this section until such time as proper documentation has been submitted and accepted.
(3) The immunization requirements in subsections (b) and (d) of this section are not applicable to individuals who can properly demonstrate proof of laboratory confirmation of immunity or laboratory confirmation of disease. Vaccines for which this may be potentially demonstrated, and acceptable methods for demonstration, are found in §97.65 of this title (relating to Exceptions to Immunization Requirements (Verification of Immunity/History of Illness)). Such a student cannot participate in coursework activities involving the contact described in subsection (a) of this section until such time as proper documentation has been submitted and accepted.
(d) Students enrolled in schools of veterinary medicine.
(1) Rabies Vaccine. Students enrolled in schools of veterinary medicine whose coursework involves direct contact with animals or animal remains shall receive a complete primary series of rabies vaccine prior to such contact. Serum antibody levels must be checked every two years, with a booster dose of rabies vaccine administered if the rabies virus-neutralizing antibody response is inadequate according to current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.
(2) Hepatitis B Vaccine. Students enrolled in schools of veterinary medicine whose coursework involves potential exposure to human or animal blood or bodily fluids shall receive a complete series of hepatitis B vaccine prior to such contact.
(3) Tetanus-Diphtheria Vaccine. One dose of a tetanus-diphtheria toxoid (Td) is required within the last ten years. The booster dose may be in the form of a tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis containing vaccine (Tdap).
(e) Requirements regarding acceptable evidence of vaccination are found at §97.68 of this title (relating to Acceptable Evidence of Vaccination(s)).
Source Note: The provisions of this §97.64 adopted to be effective April 1, 2004, 29 TexReg 3188; amended to be effective March 5, 2009, 34 TexReg 1433; amended to be effective May 25, 2010, 35 TexReg 4178; amended to be effective July 28, 2016, 41 TexReg 5422