The Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences requires all students to be fully compliant with the current guidelines against vaccine-preventable diseases prior to the commencement of clinical activities. These guidelines state proof of immunity status must be available and the clinical site can request a copy of immunization documentation from students at any time in preparation for or during a clinical placement. Six months before the first practicum, students are required to complete an immunization review. It is highly recommended that students complete their immunization review with UBC’s Student Health Services, who will screen for compliance with BC Guidelines that may include Tetanus/Diphtheria-Toxoid, Polio, MMR, Chickenpox and Hepatitis B, and a negative TB skin test result (if the skin test is positive, a chest x-ray is required). Students who are unable to complete their immunization review with Student Health Services, should contact the Flex PharmD Program Manager for other options. Failure to comply with documentation requirement could result in the individual being barred from practicums. It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that all immunizations remain up-to-date throughout their time in the program.
All students will have their vaccination records reviewed. Students with a positive test result or those who are unable to comply with vaccination requirements for any communicable disease may face restrictions in the course of their pharmacy training and may be constrained in their ability to practice.
In addition, all students are required to obtain an influenza vaccination each year. If it is contraindicated for a student to receive the influenza vaccine, the student must declare their contraindication to the Office of Experiential Education in advance of the stated deadline in order to meet their pre-practicum requirements. Pharmacy students must comply with the institutional/corporate policy of the site to which they are assigned. Individual institutions and practice sites may have immunization, testing or documentation requirements for student placements beyond those required by the Faculty. Information regarding these requirements will be provided to students when practicum site assignments are confirmed.
Students in the Flexible Doctor of Pharmacy program must be registered as a full pharmacist with the College of Pharmacists of British Columbia before the start of their first Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience (APPE).