HS 001 - Frequently Asked Questions

What are the mandatory health requirements for incoming students?

Effective Fall 2019, all incoming resident and commuter undergraduate and graduate students (part-time, full-time and/or auditing classes) who will be physically present on SHU campus must upload the required health forms to the Medicat Patient Portal (MPP) by August 1st for the Fall Semester and December 31st for the Spring Semester.

These forms include:

• Health History Form
• Health Provider and Insurance Information Form
• Immunization Verification Form
• Tuberculosis (TB) Risk Assessment Form

How do I access the Medicat Patient Portal?

A hyperlink for Medicat can be found at the bottom of your MySHU homepage under online services or click here. Use your Seton Hill email and password to log into Medicat.

What immunizations are required?

Health Services Immunization Verification Form must be completed and signed by your Health Care Provider; you must upload this document to MPP. Submitting copies of immunization records will not be accepted.

1. Measles/Mumps/Rubella Vaccine (MMR):
   1. ALL STUDENTS (part-time, full-time, and/or auditing classes) born during or after 1957 MUST provide immunization dates of TWO MMR doses. The first dose must be administered after first birthday and the second dose at least 28 days following the first dose.
   2. OR provide evidence of immunity (positive immunoglobin IgG antibody blood test to each Measles, Mumps, and Rubella)
2. Meningococcal Quadrivalent (A,C,Y, W­135) Vaccine
   1. Conjugate (Preferred): Menactra or Menveo (MCV4)
   2. Polysaccharide (Acceptable alternative if conjugate not available): Menomune (MPSV4)
   3. ALL RESIDENT AND COMMUTER STUDENTS (part-time, full-time and/or auditing classes) must have one dose on or after sixteenth birthday.
   4. IF vaccine was received before age 16, a booster (additional dose) must be given
3. Serogroup B Meningococcal Vaccine
   1. Bexsero: 2 dose series with doses given at least 1 month apart
   2. Trumenba: either a 2 dose series administered at least 6 months apart or a 3 dose series administered with the second and third doses administered 1-2 and 6 months after the first dose
4. Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis Vaccine:
   1. One dose Tdap (tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid and acellular pertussis NOT to be confused with DTap or Td) (specify vaccine type Boostrix or Adacel)
   2. Td vaccine booster is also needed if it has been greater than ten years since the Tdap was administered
5. Varicella Vaccine
   1. 2 doses of varicella containing vaccine at least 12 weeks apart if vaccinated between 1 and 12 years of age and at least 4 weeks apart if vaccinated 13 years or older
   2. Laboratory evidence of immunity (positive immunoglobin (IgG) antibody blood test)
   3. Laboratory confirmation of varicella or history of varicella diagnosed by health care provider

*Specific majors may have more restrictive immunization requirements. Please check with your advisor.

Additional Requirement: Screening for Tuberculosis (TB)

1. ALL incoming students must submit a TB Risk Assessment
2. Students who check “Yes” to a response on the questionnaire require tuberculin skin test (TST) and/or Interferon Gamma Release Assays (IGRA) blood test prior to the start of the semester.
3. AND ALL international students must provide documentation that they have been tested for tuberculosis in the United States, the date the test was performed, and the results of the test. Tests must be completed no sooner than 3­6 months before the start of class. If a student has a history of a BCG vaccination, a IGRA blood test (such as “Q­Gold”) is required since cross reactivity between PPD and BCG is possible. Upon arrival to campus, students can make an appointment in Health Services with the Nurse Practitioner to facilitate testing. Cost of testing is the responsibility of the student. Any medical records brought from the students home country must be translated into English.
   
   IF the TST or IGRA is positive, the student must undergo chest radiography to rule out active disease; in addition, a referral will be made to the Westmoreland County Health Department.

What other immunizations are (Strongly) recommended by not required?

• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B
• Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
• Polio
• Pneumococcal 13 or 23 Valent
• Yearly Influenza

If I have a copy of my immunization records, can I send it to you instead of completing the Health Services Immunization Verification Form?

No; the Immunization Verification Form must be completed and signed by your Health Care Provider. You must upload this signed document to MPP; emailing or faxing immunization records will not be accepted.

Can I request a waiver from any immunization requirements?

A student may request an exemption from immunization compliance if there is a documented medical contraindication to vaccination accompanied by a health care providers signature or if religious beliefs prohibit immunization. The student must sign a waiver that indicates (s)he and/or parent (if student is under 18) has been informed of the risks of the disease(s) and benefit of immunization. If an outbreak of contagious disease occurs, the university will require students who have not been vaccinated against that disease to leave campus until the outbreak is over.

I need to complete Tuberculosis (TB) testing based on my response to the TB Screening Questionnaire. What test do you accept?

We accept a negative tuberculin skin test (TST) OR a negative chest x-ray OR a negative IGRA blood test (such as “Q-Gold”). TST can be done in Health Services for a nominal fee.

Do I need a physical exam?

No; a physical exam is only required for SHU athletes. Otherwise, incoming students only need to complete the Health Services Health History, Health Services Immunization Verification Form, and Tuberculosis (TB) Risk Assessment Form.

Do I need to have medical insurance?

Yes, all students are required to carry medical insurance.

What happens if I have not completed or uploaded my health requirements by August 1st for the Fall Semester and December 31st for the Spring Semester?

Resident students who fail to comply with the mandatory health requirements, by the correct deadline, will be prohibited from moving into the residence halls and will not be issued their technology until they comply.

Commuter students who fail to comply with the mandatory health requirements, by the correct deadline, will not be issued their technology until they comply.

Graduate students who fail to comply with the mandatory health requirements, by the correct deadline, will have a hold placed on their registration until they comply.