Immunisation Checking

Existing students

All students studying one of the above listed courses must be double vaccinated against Covid-19 by 1 April 2022.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) in England has recently announced that all NHS and Social Care staff will need to be vaccinated against Covid-19 if they wish to be deployed in roles that involve face to face contact with service users.

Due to the nature of your course of interest, clinical / care placements in the NHS and social care settings form an essential part of a student’s education, placing them within the mandate.

This means that any student going into practice-based components of these courses will need to be double vaccinated by 1 April 2022.

Information regarding students who choose not to be vaccinated

Some students may choose not to be vaccinated for a number of reasons, or who cannot receive the vaccination for health reasons. Brunel University London has a duty to support these students.

If you are eligible for the vaccine, but have chosen not to be vaccinated, please email immunisations@brunel.ac.uk. We can then collaboratively explore any reasons for students not wishing to be vaccinated. If following this discussion, you decide that you still do not wish to be vaccinated against Covid-19, this will impact your application to study at Brunel.

If you have been unable to take the vaccine for health reasons, please email immunisations@brunel.ac.uk to let us know that you believe this to be the case. You will be referred to our occupational health team, which can confirm that you are exempted from vaccination.

If you have been vaccinated against Covid-19, you will be required to provide evidence to confirm this at point of application.

 

Prospective/incoming students 

All incoming students who are planning to study one of the above listed courses must be double vaccinated against Covid-19 before the start of the course. 

Please see above for further information if you choose not to be vaccinated or are medically exempt.     

 

Further information

If you have any general queries about the vaccination, please email immunisations@brunel.ac.uk

Guidance for international students can be found on the GOV.UK website. Here you can find the list of approved vaccines.

This requires 3 vaccines administered over a period of 6 months. You will also be required to have a surface antibody blood test after you have completed your three Hepatitis B vaccinations.  At least the first vaccination should be completed prior to enrolment in September – please note this is an Occupational Health immunisation which your GP cannot provide on the NHS, and you will have to pay privately or visit a clinic for the vaccine. Three doses are required and the average cost per dose is £30.

You must have had a current booster within the last 10 years that will be valid up to September next year or have five documented vaccinations giving long term immunity. These documents must have the dates provided. Normally only one dose is required and it is free on the NHS.

If your GP can verify that you have received this vaccination via your medical records, or they are able to verify a BCG scar on your arm as proof of immunisation, then they will need to provide confirmation of this on letterheaded paper with a signature. If you do not have a scar or vaccine confirmation in your medical records please speak to your GP about how to have a Mantoux test. Please note you will most likely have to pay a fee for this test and you may have to go to a local hospital or medicentre/ travel clinic.  Prices vary by clinic but the average price of a Mantoux test is £75 and the BCG is £55 on average.

If the outcome of the Mantoux test is negative you will need to have the BCG vaccination (this can be arranged via your GP or a travel clinic). You do not have to have a Mantoux test if your GP can verify that you have received the BCG or have a confirmed scar. 

If your GP can verify by your medical records that you have received two vaccinations or you have immunity due to having had either the Measles or Rubella virus, they will need to provide you with evidence of this.

If immunity for either both or one of these cannot be confirmed by your medical records you must have a blood test to confirm immunity and your GP must provide evidence of this immunity once you have received your results. Some GP's will offer the Measles/Rubella or MMR vaccine free on the NHS, private/travel clinic costs average between £30 - £60 per dose.

If your medical records verify that you have had the virus and are therefore immune, your GP will need to provide you with evidence of this. However, if immunity cannot be confirmed by your medical records you must have a blood test. If your blood test result is negative you will need to have the varicella zoster vaccine and your GP should then provide you with evidence to confirm immunity. The VZV chicken pox vaccine costs £65-85 per dose and 2 doses are required. 

The below blood tests are required in addition to the above immunisations if you are studying the Physician Associate or Medicine Programme. 

The additional blood tests are to check immunity for Exposure Prone Procedures.

• Hep B surface Antigen Test 
• Hep C Antibody Blood Test
• HIV Antibody Blood Test

Please note that all immunisations listed are a registration requirement for Medicine.  

Students must make all reasonable attempts to complete this requirement prior to registration.  

Students who have not completed the requirement may be asked to leave the programme if this requirement is not met. Clinical placements are an integral part of the course and cannot be undertaken unless the requirements have been met. 

Home / EU Students - Please note that all costs for your immunisations will be reimbursed to you after you enrol on to your course. Further information about this will be sent to you in Welcome Week. Please ensure that you keep evidence of your payments for your immunisations and blood tests.

Please note the average cost of vaccinations has been provided here. These are subject to change and can vary from clinic to clinic.