Texas Minimum Vaccine Requirements for Students Enrolled in Healthcare or Veterinary Coursework
The following information is summarized from Title 25, Texas Administrative Code §97.64. This text is provided as a courtesy, but is in no way intended to supercede or take precedence over official regulations.
Healthcare Students (Non-Veterinary)
Students must have the all the following vaccinations before they may engage in the course activities which will involve direct patient contact with potential exposure to blood or bodily fluids in educational, medical, or dental care facilities.
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.
Measles Vaccine
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).
Mumps Vaccine
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.
Rubella Vaccine
Students must show, prior to patient contact, acceptable evidence of one dose of rubella vaccine.
Hepatitis B Vaccine
Students are required to receive a complete series of hepatitis B vaccine prior to the start of direct patient care.
Varicella (Chickenpox) Vaccine
Students are required to have received two doses of varicella (chickenpox) vaccine.
Veterinary Medicine Students
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 titer is inadequate according to current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.
Tetanus-Diphtheria
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).
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.
Requirements regarding acceptable evidence of vaccination are found in Texas Administrative Code §97.68.
Limited Exceptions
Provisional Enrollment
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 on schedule 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 direct patient contact with potential exposure to blood or bodily fluids in educational, medical, or dental care facilities, or direct contact with animals or animal remains, until the full vaccination series has been administered.
Serological Confirmation of Immunity
The immunization requirements for healthcare students (non-veterinary and veterinary) 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 Texas Administrative Code §97.65. Such a student cannot participate in coursework activities involving direct patient contact with potential exposure to blood or bodily fluids in educational, medical, or dental care facilities until such time as proper documentation has been submitted and accepted.
Lack of Documentation
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 direct patient contact with potential exposure to blood or bodily fluids in educational, medical, or dental care facilities, or direct contact with animals or animal remains, until such time as proper documentation has been submitted and accepted.