Pre-Matriculation Health Requirements
Incoming medical students must provide proof of vaccination and/or positive immunity for the following diseases prior to matriculation to the university.
The completed Admission Health Record Form for medical students MUST be submitted by June 15th of the year of matriculation with the exception of Tuberculosis. Testing for Tuberculosis is time sensitive and can only be completed after May 1st (see details below).
MEASLES (Rubeola), MUMPS, RUBELLA - TWO vaccination dates or positive lab report confirming immunity will satisfy this requirement.
VARICELLA (Chicken Pox) TITER - TWO vaccination dates or positive lab report confirming immunity will satisfy this requirement.
HEPATITIS B TITER (Surface Antibodies) - A positive lab report confirming immunity must be submitted to meet this requirement. If known, vaccination dates should be provided. If the titer does not prove immunity (negative or equivocal) or the vaccination series has just been started, students should list dates of all vaccinations completed to date. Students who receive an abnormal result for Hepatitis B signifying active or chronic disease must receive Hepatitis consultation at student health services prior to participating in clinical activities.
TETANUS/DIPHTHERIA/PERTUSSIS (Tdap) for Domestic Students- Last vaccination must be within 10 years prior to entrance into University.
TETANUS/DIPHTHERIA SERIES for International Students – (Td, DT, DTP, DTaP or Tdap) meet the requirement for International students attending Northwestern on Student VISA. Vaccination must be done at least 6 months after last primary series vaccination.
MUST list at least 2 dates from primary series (usually done in childhood). Doses MUST be at least 28 days apart.
TUBERCULOSIS TESTING REQUIREMENTS for Incoming Students
A QuantiFERON® TB Gold blood test must be completed in the USA on or after May 1st of the year a student enters the program. A copy of the lab report must be submitted. If the QuantiFERON® TB Gold blood test result is positive, a chest x-ray must also be completed and attached to the result; students with positive test results will also be required to meet with a Health Service physician after arriving to campus.
OR
In the case where a student has a history of a positive Tuberculosis test, the student must submit a chest X-ray result from a film performed in the USA on or after March 1st of the year the student enters the program. If available, the student should include the test results of the prior Tuberculosis test and if applicable, treatment records.
STUDENTS ARRIVING FROM OTHER COUNTRIES in need of a TB test and/or Chest X-Ray have until 30 days after the start of classes to complete this testing. TB Tests and x-rays from other countries will not be accepted and will be repeated at the student’s expense.
Please note that student health results are not kept on the Feinberg medical school campus and are not known to medical school administrators such as Deans. The only records available to the school are whether a student’s immunization requirements are “complete” or “incomplete” as some information such as titers are considered HIPAA protected information. Student immunization records including titers and radiologic examination results will be kept only at the Student Health Offices in Evanston/Chicago campuses. Students should contact the Evanston Campus Health Service at 847-491-2204 or Chicago Campus at 312-695-8134 with any questions, to receive individual counseling regarding their results, or to schedule an appointment.
Last Updated: 4/16/2020