It is recommended that incoming students begin completing this process as early as possible to ensure there are no issues with their enrollment. Immunizations can be submitted through onQ, once access is available. You can access and download the Queen's School of Nursing Immunization Form under the "Policy - Immunization Screening Process" tab below.
Please email jst@queensu.ca for all general questions about our immunization policy.
For students entering their first year of Nursing at Queen’s University, this documentation is required for registration in the program. It is the responsibility of each student to maintain their health records. For all students, the absence of documentation will result in the student being deemed ineligible for clinical placements.
Exception: The influenza vaccination is not usually available until October and takes two weeks to become effective. An annual influenza vaccination should be done as soon as the vaccine becomes available.
Students are advised to visit their family physician, Student Wellness Services, or their local Public Health unit to have their immunization schedule reviewed. Contact your family physician if you need serology, as Public Health does not do any serology for immunizations. Immunizations and serology testing occurs at the student’s cost.
Documents that will be accepted as proof of immunization include the provincial immunization record, documentation signed by a healthcare provider, and/or laboratory evidence of natural disease or immunity.
Students who cannot be immunized due to allergies or family planning reasons must provide a physician’s note AND speak to the Associate Director, Undergraduate Programs, School of Nursing.
For upper year students, this information will be posted on OnQ in the Undergraduate Nursing Portal.
Please ensure you keep the originals of all documents. Absence of documentation will result in the student being deemed ineligible for clinical placements.
For further information on the Government of Ontario immunization schedules click HERE and for the Canadian Immunization Guide click HERE
The only exceptions to this are: Influenza shots and the third Hepatitis shot with serology. Influenza immunization is not usually available until October, takes two weeks to become effective, and should be done as soon as the vaccine becomes available. It is understood that Hepatitis B immunization may not be complete by the due date, but students must have completed the first and second shot.
**INDETERMINATE RESULTS ARE NOT SUFFICIENT. A REPORT FROM A HEALTH PROFESSIONAL WILL BE NEEDED TO CONFIRM IMMUNOLOGICAL STATUS
Students may access Queen’s University: Student Health Services at 613-533-2506.
Download the Queen's School of Nursing Immunization Form
Only electronic submission of the immunization form will be accepted via Concise Health Solutions.
Required documentation:
- Receipt of all doses (2 or 3 dose series) by healthcare professional, AND
- Laboratory evidence of immunity (ie. positive serology for antibody to Hepatitis B -Anti-HBs) completed at least one month after completion of a valid vaccination series.
It is understood that Hepatitis B immunization may not be complete by the start of first year; however, all tests and immunizations must be completed by December 31st of the first year in the program. You can receive clearance from Concise Health with 2 vaccination doses but are still required to complete the serology to meet the requirements.
Notes:
- Students who are anti-HBs positive, no further action is required.
- Students who are anti-HBs negative must be screened for Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). Students who are negative for anti-HBs despite one Hepatitis B vaccine series and who are HBsAg negative are required to:
- Complete a second series of Hepatitis B vaccination, and
- Submit the results of a second anti-HBs one month after the completion of the second series of vaccination.
- Students who continue to be non-immune after a second series of Hepatitis B vaccine are considered to be “non-responders” and will be referred for counselling. If the result of any HBsAg test is positive, the student will be referred for counselling by the Director of the School of Nursing. They will also need HBeAg, anti-HBe, and Hepatitis B DNA levels.
NOTE: Students infected with Hepatitis B will undergo an assessment of their potential to transmit Hepatitis B. This assessment could restrict or modify your participation in some aspects of the curriculum.
If a student decides NOT to be vaccinated, in the event of a flu outbreak he/she will be removed from placement. Some agencies require the flu vaccine. Influenza immunization is not usually available until October and takes 2 weeks to become effective. An annual influenza immunization should be done as soon as the vaccine becomes available.
Students show proof of immunity in one of two ways:
- Two vaccinations after the first birthday; OR
- Blood work (serology) showing immunity.
If there is no immunity, students need to receive 2 doses of MMR vaccine.
Either vaccine is recommended (depending on local epidemiology and programmatic considerations) for adolescents (given routinely at 12 years of age) and young adults, even if previously vaccinated as an infant or toddler.
For the Men-C-ACYW-135 vaccine, a booster dose is recommended every 5 years if individuals in these groups remain at ongoing risk.
Novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination is required for clinical teaching activities and clinical placements. Learners should follow NACI recommendations on the use of COVID-19 vaccines. Learners who choose not to have COVID-19 vaccination should be notified that university and hospital policies may preclude them from clinical teaching and/or clinical placements that are curricular requirements.
Students are required to provide documentation of a complete series of polio vaccine. Polio vaccine series consists of:
- three (3) doses if primary series started after the age of 7 (adult dose).
- four (4) dose series is acceptable if the last dose is given between 4 and 6 years of age
- five (5) doses for children up to 6 years of age
If no evidence of complete vaccinations is provided, students who only need polio protection should receive two doses of IPV-containing vaccine given 4 to 8 weeks apart, followed by a third dose 6 to 12 months after the second dose.
Documentation of a primary series or adult catch-up series is required.
Students must provide proof of tetanus and diphtheria-containing vaccine received within the last 10 years.
All students must have a dose of pertussis-containing vaccine in adulthood (over the age of 18) prior to beginning the OB/Peds placement.
Students are responsible for ensuring that these boosters remain up to date after admittance to the School of Nursing.
Regarding Covid-19 Vaccine, the TB test should be administered and read before immunization or delayed for at least 4 weeks after vaccination. Vaccination with COVID-19 vaccines may take place at any time after all steps of tuberculin skin testing have been completed.
An initial baseline 2-step TST is required to have been completed prior to the first clinical placement. It is done once in a lifetime. The second step should be completed 1 to 4 weeks after the first step.
A 1-step TST is required if it has been more than 12 months since the 2-step TST and is required to be completed annually.
Students are responsible for ensuring that 1-step Testing is maintained annually after admittance to the School of Nursing.
Note:
A 10mm or more induration is positive (or 5mm or more for those infected with HIV, or in recent close contact with active TB, or with chest X-ray indicating healed TB). If any TST is positive, this must be reported to the School of Nursing. The student will require follow-up with a medical assessment & symptom check, a chest X-ray, and referral to the Tuberculosis Clinic at the Kingston Health Sciences Centre (KHSC).
In subsequent years, an annual chest X-Ray and assessment are not required. However, the student should seek medical attention promptly if they develop symptoms of active TB disease.
Previous BCG vaccination is not a contraindication to TB Skin testing unless the individual has a documented positive TST.
A student must provide proof of vaccination or immunity to Varicella:
- Documentation of receipt of 2 doses of Varicella-containing vaccine given at least 4 weeks apart, on or after the individual’s first birthday OR
- Laboratory evidence of immunity.
Non-immune students who have a contraindication to receiving the Varicella vaccine must inform the School of Nursing upon registration and will be referred to the Director of the School of Nursing for advice.
Note:
- A TST must be completed prior to receiving MMR/Varicella vaccinations.
- MMR/Varicella vaccinations can be given on the same day. If not, they must be administered 4 weeks apart.