Immunizations

Communicable Disease and Immunization Policy

General Student Requirements

The Faculty of Pharmacy will inform students that:

• They may be required to take part in the care of patients with various communicable diseases including hepatitis, TB, and HIV, during their clinical rotations;
• They will be instructed regarding methods of preventing the spread of communicable diseases;
• There is a risk that they may contract a communicable disease during the course of their rotations;
• They have a responsibility to prevent the spread of communicable diseases to others;
• They will be required to comply with Faculty immunization requirements;
• Students with a communicable disease may participate in experiential placements only as long as their (continued) involvement does not pose a health or safety hazard to themselves or to others;
• Students will be required to comply with provincial communicable diseases surveillance protocols developed under the Public Hospitals Act/Regulation 965;
• Students may be required to give body fluid specimens if they are exposed to or contract certain diseases while working in practice sites.

Students With A Communicable Disease

• All students are expected to be in a state of health such that they may participate in the academic program, including patient care, without posing a risk to themselves or to others. Students with a communicable disease may participate in experiential placements only as long as their continued involvement does not pose a health or safety hazard to themselves or others.
• Students who acquire a communicable disease are required to seek medical opinion.
• In addition to complying with other regulations, students with tuberculosis, hepatitis B, hepatitis C or HIV infection must provide documentation to Synergy Gateway Verified, from their primary care provider confirming the disclosed condition is being appropriately managed
• The health status of the students shall remain confidential.

Students Caring For Patients With Communicable Diseases

• Students are required to participate in the care of all patients assigned to them, including patients with communicable diseases, to a level commensurate with their level of training. Such participation is necessary for the student’s learning as well as for satisfactory completion of academic requirements.
• All students are expected to understand and adhere to infection control policies, including the principles of body substance precautions, when participating in the assessment and care of all patients, regardless of the patient’s diagnosis.
• Students are responsible for conducting themselves in a manner which is consistent with the health and safety of themselves and others and shall be given appropriate training to do so. Students who fail to meet these responsibilities may, depending on the circumstances, face sanctions under the provisions of the Standards of Professional Practice Behaviour for All Health Professional Students.
• Students are required to comply with the immunization policies of the Faculty.

Students Exposed To A Communicable Disease During Experiential Placements

• Students who incur an injury or other medically related incident that may place them at risk of acquiring a communicable disease, during the performance of activities as a part of their experiential placement, must immediately seek medical attention. The incident must be reported by the student, at the earliest opportunity, to their preceptor and the Office of Experiential Education to ensure that required documentation is completed.
• Students who are exposed to a communicable disease during the course of an experiential placement are strongly encouraged to follow up with Occupational Health, Health and Wellness services at the University of Toronto or any other health care provider for additional counselling or follow up needs related to the communicable disease in question.

Co-Responsibility with Practice Sites

The Faculty of Pharmacy and the practice sites each are responsible for ensuring that students are adequately instructed in infection control as it relates to communicable diseases. This will include the following:

• The Faculty will provide information on body substance precautions and infection control and inform students as to their responsibilities with respect to infection control.
• Affiliated institutional practice sites are required to comply with the Communicable Disease Surveillance Protocols for Ontario Hospitals developed under the Public Hospitals Act/Regulation 965. Compliance with these Protocols requires the hospitals to provide instruction in infection control precautions.