Required Immunizations
For everyone's safety, the Rhode Island Department of Health requires students to
have immunizations before they can attend their second semester. The forms below list
the immunizations required, and need to be signed by your doctor or other health care
provider. Health Sciences students should submit the Immunization Form for Health
Sciences students , and all other students submit the Immunization Form for College
Students.
You can also submit immunization records from your high school or doctor's office. If you have any questions about what documentation fulfills this requirement: nurse@ccri.edu. Make sure you have included your CCRI ID number on your records for timely processing. Please email records to nurse@ccri.edu.
If you are having trouble getting your immunization records, don't worry! There are low-cost medical tests called titers you can take to show immunity.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get my records if my doctor is no longer in practice?
There are low-cost medical tests called titers you can take to show immunity.
What if I can't provide an immunization record for religious or medical reasons?
An exemption form is available from Health Services, which is filed with CCRI and
the State of Rhode Island as mandated. In the event of a outbreak, students who waived
vaccines for the disease will be excluded from school for the duration of the outbreak.
What is a two-step PPD?
A two-step PPD involves two PPD tests done no less than two weeks apart. This testing
is done as an initial testing for tuberculosis exposure. Once the two-step is complete,
annual testing is done. Hospitals have agreed to accept two PPD tests done within
a six-month period as a two-step. Any student receiving serial annual PPD testing
is exempt from the two-step PPD test.
What if I had a positive PPD test in the past?
Submit the date of the positive PPD test and a negative chest x-ray report done following
the positive PPD. Once a negative chest x-ray has been done, no further x-rays are
required. You will be required to have a TB Symptom Assessment completed by your primary
care provider and submitted to Health Services annually.
Do I need to wait until after I finish a series of vaccines to submit my records?
Even if you are waiting to finish a series, send in your records now. Keep in mind
there is a lag time between actual submission and data entry, which you must accommodate
by getting your information in as soon as possible.
What health records do I need for the Health Sciences Program?
Healthcare Requirements for Health Science Students
Will I be able to start clinicals if I haven't received the Hepatitis B vaccine or
just started the series?
As long as you have started the series, you are eligible to start clinicals. However,
you will be excluded if you do not obtain the remainder of the series according to
schedule.
- Dose 1
- Dose 2 = 1 month after dose 1
- Dose 3 = 5 months after dose 2
Within two months of the initial series, you will need to titer for the SURFACE (HsAb)
ANTIBODY to see if you have converted to immune status. If you have not converted,
you will be asked to repeat the series.
If I already had a Tdap vaccine, why do I need a booster?
The Tdap vaccine contains protection against pertussis (whooping cough) which has
risen in prevalence recently. As result, all health care workers whose Td (tetanus
and diphtheria) is more than two years old are required to obtain a Tdap booster.
The pertussis portion of the vaccine prompted this new requirement.
Is the influenza vaccine required?
Clinical sites have stated they want all students to provide documentation of receiving
or declining the flu vaccine. If you decline the vaccine, a Flu Declination form must be submitted.
Due to the clinical affiliates or clinical placements with the college, the COVID
vaccination can be required for the health science programs. Please refer to the individual
health programs.
