Health Sciences Immunization Program (HSIP)

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

3. Hall Health, UW Seattle campus health center.  Please call (206) 685-1011 to schedule (identify yourself as an HSIP participating student)

4. Pharmacy & clinic resources near Seattle & Tacoma UW Campus

5. Urgent Care/Walk-in Clinics (Do an internet search, "Urgent Care Clinics/Walk-in Clinics near me")

6. 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
• 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.

1. 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
 

2. UW Insurance Plans  

Students are required to provide documentation of both a completed full Hepatitis B vaccine series (2-doses of Heplisav B or 3-doses all other Hepatitis B vaccines) and proof of immunity through a postvaccination Quantitative Hepatitis B Surface Antibody Titer, in accordance with CDC recommendations for healthcare personnel and HSIP policy.  

If you already have a completed Hep B vaccine series and a Reactive Quantitative Hep B Surface Antibody Titer that is dated after the vaccine series…  

Please combine both the Hep B vaccine documentation and the reactive/positive Quantitative Hep B Surface Antibody titer into one PDF file and submit it for the Hepatitis B action in your CastleBranch account for approval. Please note, a full lab report is required; an immunization summary is not acceptable.  

After completion of a full Hep B vaccine series, you need to complete a Quantitative Hepatitis B Surface Antibody Titer (HBsAb-QN). The Quantitative Hep B Surface Antibody Titer is a serologic test to verify immunity from your vaccine series. This lab test needs to be requested through a physician’s order. 

How to obtain an order for a Quantitative Hep B Surface Antibody Titer:  

1. Through your primary care provider, or

2. If you do not have a primary care provider, you can use one of the following resources: 

•  Hall Health, UW Seattle campus health center.  Please call (206) 685-1011 to schedule (identify yourself as an HSIP participating student)

• Urgent Care/Walk-in Clinics (Do an internet search for "Urgent Care Clinics/Walk-in Clinics near me.")

• Student online lab orders 

It is the student’s responsibility to verify insurance coverage of titers. 

Submitting your titer in your CastleBranch account:  

Upload the full lab report. The lab report must include your full name, date of collection (blood draw date), result and a numeric interpretive reference range. An immunization summary is not acceptable; a full lab report is required.  

In accordance with CDC guidelines for healthcare workers and HSIP policy, a documented full Hepatitis B vaccine series is required followed by postvaccination HBsAb titer. Individuals who cannot provide written documentation of a complete hepatitis B vaccination series should complete the series. HSIP recommends getting the Heplisav-B 2-dose vaccine series. Individuals should be tested for HBsAb immunity 1 month after the final dose. HBsAb titers drawn prior to completion of a full documented vaccine series are not acceptable.  

Submit each dose into your CastleBranch account as it is received, a new action for the next dose/titer will be created with a new due date. You are considered temporarily compliant while completing the series as long as each new due date is met. The HBsAb titer should be drawn 1 month after completion of the series.  

Individuals with a known history of chronic or acute Hepatitis B Infection should complete the following steps:

1. Obtain your most recent Hepatitis B Surface Antigen (HBsAg) titer lab report.  

2. Please have your provider complete the HSIP Acute-Chronic Infection Counseling Form.

3. Complete the Student Acknowledgement Form indicating your Hepatitis B infection status and your understanding that additional Hepatitis B vaccination is not required. 

Once you have completed the forms, please submit them directly to HSIP at myshots@uw.edu.  

The most common reasons for TB document rejection are:

1. The entering student submitted only one PPD. A blood test or two-step PPD is required for initial testing. Here is a link to CDC information about two-step testing for health care workers.
2. The student’s PPD is missing a required element: Date Placed, Date Read, or Results in mm. Use the optional form in Requirement 1 (or on HSIP’s website) to assist with documentation.
3. The IGRA (blood test for TB) is resulted on an immunization summary. Ask your provider to print out the actual lab report showing your result.
4. The TB Questionnaire/TBSS did not upload correctly. Carefully follow submission instructions on the TBSS form for a positive screening.
5. A chest x-ray (alone) is unacceptable unless accompanied by documentation of a positive TB screening. The CXR does not substitute for the TB test. Download the “positive TB” form from Requirement 1 of your To Do List and discuss options with your provider.

Try these tips:

1. For lab tests, including TB blood tests and titers, check the tests, or results section:
   1. Click on the correct test.
   2. Find the printer icon, usually in the top right corner.
   3. Right click and “print to adobe” or “print to desktop”.
   4. Save the copy and upload this to your To Do List.
2. For proof of vaccine administration:
   1. Check the visits section for the AVS (after visit summary) on the visit date. The summary may have your name, the “date of service”, and an area that states “vaccines given”. Print/Save per above instructions. OR
   2. Find the Immunization Summary or Immunization/Injection Administration List. Print/Save per above instructions.
3. For PPD skin tests:
   1. Check the letters section. Click on the letter that shows the date placed, date read, and results in mm.  OR
   2. Check the result/test section as above to find the date read and results in mm. Then, go to the visits section for an AVS (after visit summary) that shows the placement date. You’ll need to combine the two documents to show all required elements (placement/read/result) for a PPD.

Carefully follow the instructions provided for the Hepatitis B requirement.

1. Upload any previous documented doses of Hepatitis B vaccine (for most, a 3-dose series). If you didn’t finish the series, or didn’t upload a titer, you’ll be assigned “Hepatitis B 2nd Action” in your To Do List.
   1. For a series in process: upload documentation of each item as you complete it. You’ll continue to see new requirements in the To Do List. You are compliant as long as you stay on track with the CDC’s standard timeline for receiving each dose and the follow up titer.
   2. If you didn’t initially upload a titer: obtain the required blood test, then upload the lab report, even if the result was negative.
2. A negative titer prompts an additional requirement called “Hepatitis B Booster/Repeat Vaccine + Second Titer Action 1” in the To Do List. Obtain ONE “BOOSTING” dose of either the traditional vaccine or the new Heplisav B vaccine; upload documentation to the requirement.
3. The next requirement, called “Hepatitis B Booster/Repeat Vaccine + Second Titer Action 2”, will be added to your To Do List. A month after the boosting dose, repeat the quantitative HSAB blood test, then upload a copy of the lab report that shows your result.  
   1. You only need the remainder of the 2nd series if your repeat titer is negative. The algorithm (chart) showing this CDC guideline is in the FORMS requirement of your To Do List.

If you’ve never had the series before, start as soon as possible after admission; the CDC recommends completion prior to patient contact. Upload EACH DOSE as you receive it. A newer vaccine is now available consisting of two doses given a minimum one month apart.