Students enrolled in the Fred Wilson School of Pharmacy (FWSOP) must comply with immunization requirements established by the State of North Carolina and by the FWSOP. These requirements protect the health of our students and minimize the transmission of communicable diseases within the program and across the campus community. Students must meet all immunization requirements before matriculation and maintain compliance through graduation. These requirements apply to every enrolled student, not only to incoming applicants.
Required Immunizations & Screenings
The following immunizations and screenings are required for all FWSOP students:
- Influenza — annual immunization while enrolled in the program.
- Hepatitis B — a two- or three-dose series, started within 30 days of matriculation, followed by a positive (immune) titer. Nonconverters may require additional doses per CDC recommendations.
- Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) — two doses of measles and mumps vaccine (or two MMRs) and one dose of rubella vaccine (or one MMR), administered on schedule.
- Varicella — a two-dose series on schedule. A history of prior infection is not sufficient; in that case a titer confirming immunity is required.
- Tetanus / Diphtheria / Pertussis — documentation of a completed primary series, a one-time Tdap dose if not previously received, and Td boosters every 10 years.
- Meningitis — a two- or three-dose series (depending on the product), administered on schedule.
- Tuberculosis — baseline screening by two-step TST or Quantiferon testing (preferred) within six months of matriculation and annually thereafter. Positive results require evaluation and, if indicated, treatment per CDC guidelines.
Certain patient-care activities (for example, international rotations) may require additional immunizations or disease prophylaxis. Students are responsible for consulting the Assistant / Associate Dean of Experiential Education to determine whether additional immunizations or screenings are needed.
Admission Criteria – Non-Academic Expectations
- Written Communication Skill
- Individual and Group Interview Performance
- Letters of Reference
- Pharmacy Practice Experience
- Leadership Experience
- Extracurricular Activities
- Professional Standards (see below)
- Technical Standards (see below)
- Completion of All Immunization & Screening Requirements (see below)
- Required Personal History Disclosures (see below)
Submitting Documentation
Students must upload a record of immunization or serologic proof of immunity for all required immunizations and screenings to Verified Credentials (VCI) at scholar.verifiedcredentials.com/highpoint within the required time frames.
Deadlines & Ongoing Compliance
Students must complete all requirements before matriculation and keep documentation current throughout enrollment. Failure to complete required immunizations and screenings, or to upload requested documentation by the required deadlines, may result in a rescinded offer of admission and forfeiture of the student’s seat, a delay in academic progression, a delay or cancellation of IPPE / APPE rotations, and/or disciplinary action.
Waivers & Exemptions
Exemptions are considered on a case-by-case basis for medical contraindication or religious objection to immunization. Students who are granted an exemption acknowledge that they will not have the protection afforded by immunizations and assume the associated risks. Applicants and admitted students considering an exemption are strongly encouraged to discuss possible limitations on clinical placement with the Assistant / Associate Dean of Student and Professional Affairs before applying.
Important: Even when the FWSOP grants an exemption, it cannot require third-party clinical sites to accept it. Some clinical sites required by the experiential program do not accept immunization exemptions. As a result, the FWSOP cannot guarantee clinical placement for a student who does not meet all vaccination requirements, and an inability to be placed may delay or preclude completion of the program.
Full Policy & Questions
For the complete policy, see Immunizations and Screening Requirements in the FWSOP Student Handbook. Questions may be directed to Dr. Betsy Abbot, Assistant Dean for Student and Professional Affairs, at [email protected].