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All students except those in a designated "Distance Learning" program are required to submit immunization documentation.
Yes, all incoming international students are subject to immunization and Tuberculosis screening requirements.
Yes, you will be required to have the same vaccinations as all new students.
All incoming UC Blue Ash and UC Clermont students must comply with this policy and will be required to submit immunization records to the Bearcats Health App.
University health officials review national guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American College Health Association and consult with medical and public health experts. The UC immunization requirement is consistent with those vaccines already required by the State of Ohio for Grades K-12 students.
UC General Population and Health Science students may apply for a vaccine exemption. Instructions and exemption forms are found on our website.
Distance Learning students in a Health Science program requesting exemptions should apply for an exemption through their clinical site or program coordinator. Distance Learning general population students do not need exemptions.
Yes, the vaccines and tuberculosis testing are available at UHS.
Since these vaccinations are considered preventive care, all should be covered by your health insurance plan if it is Affordable Care Act (ACA) compliant. The UC Student Health Insurance Plan covers these vaccinations. Please contact your private health insurance plan for questions regarding your benefits and coverage.
No, all non-health science students have the same Immunization requirements. However, an institution of higher education shall not permit a student to reside in on-campus housing unless the student (or the student’s parent if the student is younger than 18 years of age) discloses whether the student has been vaccinated against meningococcal disease and hepatitis B by submitting a meningitis and hepatitis B vaccination status statement. Reference: odh.ohio.gov/know-our-programs/Immunization/Recommended-Vaccines-College-Students.
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Yes, Bearcats Health App will maintain your records in a protected database that is compliant with applicable privacy regulations. By uploading your records into this system, you are authorizing representatives of the University of Cincinnati and University Health Services to access these records for medical and public health purposes.
UC utilizes the application Bearcats Health App, an internal database supported by UC Digital Technology Solutions and University Public Health officials to manage and verify student’s immunizations and health screenings. Upon matriculation you will have a “To Do” item within your catalyst account requesting you to submit your documentation to Bearcats Health App. Returning students who were previously non-compliant will be able to access the new system by returning to their previously existing “To Do” item. This can be accessed through the Bearcat portal. You can also submit your record directly to Bearcats Health App.
No, the Bearcats Health App is a web-based Immunization tracking platform. It is not downloaded to your device from the App store.
If the outside facility has its own Covid vaccine exemption process, a non-Health Science student or Faculty member MUST submit a Covid exemption request through that system. If the facility does not have its own Covid vaccine exemption process, you may submit a request through the Bearcats Health App.
You must download, print, and submit the appropriate University of Cincinnati standardized immunization form found on the secure Bearcats Health App. The form must be filled out and signed by a licensed healthcare provider, and then uploaded back to the secure Bearcats Health App. You must use the provided form. The system will not accept any outside forms.
Within the Bearcats Health App, you can request help by locating the “Contact Us” tab and then by selecting either the “technical” or “non-technical” drop down options or email UHStracking@ucmail.uc.edu for assistance. If you are a Health Science student, please contact your program coordinator for assistance.
Since recommended vaccines do not contribute to compliance, they may remain “not completed” in the system without affecting your status. The University of Cincinnati strongly encourages you to complete the recommended vaccines but does not require you to do so.
No, you are required to use the University of Cincinnati Standardized Immunization Form within the Bearcats Health App. The system will not accept any outside immunization forms or documents. The utilization of this form is the only way to obtain a "compliant" status.
Once on the Welcome page in the Bearcats Health App, click the "My Immunization Status" tab at the top left of the screen, which should reveal a list of immunizations. On the left, scroll down to Influenza and click on the button provided. Please answer the populated questions to provide details about your vaccine. Afterwards, please use the "Upload" button to submit your original record to the portal.
The screening questionnaire is a requirement for all Health Science students annually. Newly matriculating Health Science students will also need to provide a negative IGRA blood test result or a negative two-step TB skin test.
On September 1st of each year, you will become non-compliant in the system until your new Flu vaccine record has been uploaded. Health Science students have through November 1st to complete this requirement.
Regardless of rotation location, Health Science students (except those in Distance Learning programs) are expected to submit the required Health Science exemption form through the Bearcats Health App/UC Health exemption process.
Exemptions approved at UC Health are typically accepted at most outside clinical sites, but not all. Please speak to your clinical coordinator to confirm your exemption is accepted before your rotation starts. If your exemption is not accepted, you must comply with the requirements at that hospital or facility.
Yes, you may resubmit your vaccine exemption request through an outside hospital or facility’s exemption process if available. However, the decision made by another healthcare system will only apply to rotations at that facility.
No, the Covid vaccine is not required by the University of Cincinnati or UC Health but does strongly recommend COVID-19 vaccination. However, some outside clinical sites do require Covid-19 vaccination. If you are rotating at one of these facilities, you are expected to comply with that facility’s requirements.
No, if you have completed a Hepatitis B series and have a positive Hep B titer but are unable to find documentation of your vaccines, you do not have to repeat another Hep B series.
Yes, Health Science students must complete a 2nd Hep B series if they have a negative titer after completing their initial Hep B vaccine series.
No, if your healthcare provider documented both your second Hep B series and your second Hep B titer results on the required form, and it was uploaded into the Bearcats Health App, you should be compliant within the system. If your second titer remains negative, you will be considered a non-responder, but no additional steps need to be taken at this time.
No, students in designated distance learning programs are exempt from the University’s vaccine requirements.
Distance Learning students requesting exemptions should apply for an exemption through their clinical site or program coordinator.
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