Health Sciences Immunization Program (HSIP)

Students enrolling in these UW health sciences programs that require clinical or practicum training to complete the degree should expect to receive notification from academic program staff of the HSIP requirements:

• Seattle campus HSIP Programs
  • Medicine (MED)
  • MEDEX – Seattle, Tacoma, Anchorage, Spokane, and Hawaii
  • Medical Laboratory Science/Laboratory Medicine
  • Rehab Medicine (DPT/MOT/MPO)
  • Genetic Counseling
  • Dentistry (DDS and most post-doctoral students)
    Endo/OralB/OralM/Ortho/Perio/Pros
  • Pharmacy Doctorate (PharmD)
  • Nursing (BSN/ABSN/DNP/Certificate)
  • Social Work (BASW/MSW)
  • Public Health (MPH/Nutrition)
  • Speech & Hearing Sciences (SPHSC)
    CoreSLP/MedSLP/EdSLP/AuD/AuD-PhD

• Tacoma campus HSIP programs
  • Social Work (BASW/MSW)

• Bothell campus HSIP programs – None; all Bothell students must follow the UW General Immunization Requirement and/or any additional requirements set by their program.

Please note:

• Pre-health sciences students do not participate in HSIP.
• UW Bothell: Health sciences students follow their program’s guidelines, rather than participating in HSIP.
• UW Tacoma: Social Work and MEDEX students participate in HSIP. Other Tacoma health sciences students follow their program’s guidelines.

Once you enter a participating health sciences school or program, you will pay the HSIP fee to cover the cost of administering the Health Sciences Immunization Program.

The amount of the fee is subject to change on a yearly basis and is attached to your tuition account for as long as you remain in your UW health sciences school or program.

Read the 2024-2025 Annual HSIP Fee (PDF) for specific details about how the health fee was calculated for the current school year.

Please note that the health fee is not health insurance. More information about getting health insurance coverage can be found on the Husky Health Center website.

We recommend students learn what health services are offered at the student health center on their “home” campus and in the community. Our Health Care Resources information sheet may also be of assistance for students who need initial or ongoing services in the WWAMI region (Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho).

All HSIP required vaccines can be obtained through the following healthcare resources:

1. Through your primary care provider
2. Pharmacies in your local area (Bartell Drugs, Costco, CVS, Fred Meyer, QFC, Rite Aid, Safeway, Walgreens, WalMart, etc.)

• Book an appointment online with your preferred pharmacy
• Heplisav-B:  https://www.heplisavb.com/pharmacy-finder/
• Influenza:  https://www.vaccines.gov/find-vaccines/
• mRNA COVID-19 vaccine:  Vaccines.gov - Search for COVID‑19 vaccine locations
• Novavax COVID-19 vaccine: https://us.novavaxcovidvaccine.com/find-a-vaccine
• Free COVID-19 vaccines:  Refer to Healthcare Resources for Uninsured Students

3. CDC Vaccine Finder - vaccines.gov
4. WA State Department of Health (DOH) Vaccine Finder https://prepmod.doh.wa.gov/appointment/en/clinic/search
5. Husky Health, UW Seattle campus health center.  Please call (206) 685-1011 to schedule (identify yourself as an HSIP participating student)
6. Pharmacy & clinic resources near Seattle & Tacoma UW Campus
7. Care-a-Van Mobile Health Services - Health service events in WA state for free vaccines.  Care-a-Van services are no cost, with one exception.  People with health insurance indicating that Care-a-Van health services are out-of-network may be billed for flu or COVID-19 vaccinations.  
8. Urgent Care/Walk-in Clinics (Do an internet search, "Urgent Care Clinics/Walk-in Clinics near me")
9. Additional Healthcare Resources

Contact HSIP at myshots@uw.edu for additional resources if needed.

Prior immunization records may be accepted for MMR, Varicella, Hepatitis B, and Tdap vaccine requirements.  NOTE:  Tdap vaccination must be completed within the past 10 years OR a Td vaccination completed within the past 10 years AND documentation of a Tdap administered on or after 6/1/2005.

Suggested places to check for old immunization records:

• State Immunization Information System - Links to state resources
• All previous healthcare providers
• All pharmacy records where vaccines were administered
• Previous employers* (employee health records) including military*
• College or other post-secondary institutions* (K-12 records that are not provider-verified are not accepted)
• Department of Health
• Provider-verified immunization booklet (A facility stamp or provider signature is required next to each recorded vaccine dose.  Unverified records should be taken to your provider or local public health clinic and documented in an official medical record or state immunization registry).
• Additional Tips for Locating Old Immunization Records

*Immunization summaries are not accepted for titers and TB screening lab results.  Please obtain a copy of the full lab report.

Healthcare Resources:

• Clinic resources that can assist with eligibility for WA State Health Insurance Plans and/or offer care using a sliding scale payment:
  • Country Doctor Community Health Clinic 
    500 19th Ave East, Seattle, WA 98112
  • Carolyn Downs Family Medical Center 
    2101 East Yesler Way, Seattle, WA 98122
• Vaccine resources
  • Care-a-Van Mobile Health Services - Health service events in WA state for free vaccines.  Care-a-Van services are no cost, with one exception.  People with health insurance indicating that Care-a-Van health services are out-of-network may be billed for flu or COVID-19 vaccinations.  

Insurance Recourses: 

• UW Insurance Plans  

Staying up to date with COVID-19 vaccinations is required for all students in HSIP participating programs in accordance with HSIP policy, US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) COVID-19 recommendations and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Guidelines for Healthcare Workers.

Practicum facilities may deny unvaccinated students access to their site, which may result in an inability to fulfill academic requirements. If you have questions about academic requirements, please contact your school or program.

COVID-19 vaccines may be administered without regard to timing with other routine vaccines and TB screening required for HSIP students.

For additional information, refer to the CDC guidance on co-administration of COVID-19 vaccines with other vaccines and CDC Interim Clinical Considerations for Use of COVID-19 Vaccines regarding TB screening without regard to timing of COVID-19 vaccination.

Students are required to provide documentation of a current Tuberculosis (TB) screening in accordance with CDC recommendations for healthcare personnel and HSIP policy.  TB screening is used to detect TB infection and is not a vaccine.  A current TB screening is required to be completed by the designated dates required by your program and available in your CastleBranch account instructions.  

TB screening should be completed prior to administration of any live vaccines (MMR or Varicella); otherwise wait 28 days after the live vaccine administration.  

TB screening can be met through one of the following methods: 

1. IGRA blood test preferred for all students (either a QuantiFERON Gold or T-Spot lab test) 
   • Students with a history of receiving the BCG vaccine against TB should get the IGRA test to avoid a false positive PPD skin test.
   • Lab report required, refer to documentation requirements.  
   • Refer to the Titers and TB Screening section on the HSIP webpage for IGRA testing resources.
2. TWO separate TB skin tests/PPDs - First PPD placement and reading 48-72 hours later equals ONE PPD skin test.  A SECOND PPD skin test must be placed between 1-3 weeks after the first PPD is read.
   • BOTH PPD tests must be submitted in the same file upload.  HSIP TB PPD Skin Test Form recommended to ensure all required documentation is included.​
   • Full name, date each PPD skin test was placed, date each PPD skin test was read, and results documented as a measurement in millimeters.

A baseline individual TB risk assessment must be completed upon entry into your program.  The risk assessment can be useful in interpreting TB test results.

The HSIP TB Risk Assessment Form is required in addition to the TB screening requirement.  Please complete the form fully and provide yes/no answers for each question.  Submit the form into CastleBranch under the TB Risk Assessment to-do requirement. 

Students on rotation at a non-UW Medical site who have a blood or body fluid exposure during a clinical or practicum experience, should be seen at the nearest ER and use their personal insurance for treatment.  HSIP will pay or reimburse any uncovered costs after the student's insurance is billed first. 

• Health sciences students are not employees while they are engaging in education-related activities at clinical sites and are, therefore, not covered by workers’ compensation at either the clinical site or UW.  Treatment for exposures is NOT considered an on-the-job injury since students are NOT employees at clinical training sites.  
• Follow-up care after an initial evaluation for an exposure should be arranged through the UW Campus Employee Health Center (EHC), if indicated.  Contact UW EHC at emphlth@uw.edu or call 206.685.1026.  If the exposure occurs outside the Seattle area, please contact HSIP at myshots@uw.edu for assistance with arranging follow-up care, if indicated.  
• HSIP assistance with medical expenses is only for BBP exposure; it does not include other types of injuries or illnesses that may be related to your clinical or practicum experience.
• HSIP does not cover after-insurance reimbursement for exposures related to international travel. Students are strongly encouraged to obtain and carefully review the terms of supplemental travel insurance prior to each trip.
• Students are eligible for the reimbursement described in this section only if they are enrolled and have paid the HSIP fee.

If your insurance does not cover all the costs associated with post-exposure care, or if you have questions about reimbursement for expenses related to a BBP exposure, needlestick or sharps injury, please contact HSIP staff by email at myshots@uw.edu and note in the email subject line: “Reimbursement Question.” Alternatively, you can leave a voice mail message at 206.616.9074.

For more information about what to do after a BBP exposure, needlestick or sharps injury, see the Bloodborne Pathogens page.