Title: 02.04.003-Influenza Vaccination

Policy Number: 02.04.003

Policy Title: Influenza Vaccination

Status: Active

Policy:

As a condition of enrollment with Axon, all students are required to be vaccinated for influenza annually during CDC designated influenza season. Axon requires all students who are participating in or plan to participate in Clinical, Field, and/or Capstone Internships between October and May each year obtain, or be willing to obtain, the current season’s influenza vaccination. The influenza vaccine is a pre-clinical requirement necessary for obtaining clinical clearance. Clinical clearance is required to begin or continue Field Internships, Clinical Internships, or Capstone Field Internships.

Students who complete internships outside of influenza season but continue completing internships as influenza season approaches will be required to obtain the vaccine in order to maintain clinical clearance. Students may request an exemption to the influenza vaccination prior to reaching full enrollment, however, exemptions are strongly discouraged. Being unvaccinated substantially jeopardizes a student’s ability to successfully complete program requirements due to clinical site restrictions.

Students who choose to refuse the influenza vaccination for any reason must notify Axon Education of this decision prior to their Compliance Deadline in order to formally opt out. Failure to provide timely notice may result in administrative removal from the student’s program if the refusal is communicated after the deadline.

Axon conducts a formal audit before or on October 1st each year to identify students who lack the current season’s influenza vaccination and follows up to ensure clinical compliance. Students acknowledge that they have read, understand, and agree to abide by this policy when signing their enrollment agreement.

If a student enrolls outside of influenza season and later refuses to obtain or provide proof of the current season’s influenza vaccination once influenza season begins, the institution may revoke clinical clearance. This may result in the student being unable to complete clinical components and could lead to program failure.

For reference, an influenza vaccine is considered current if obtained on or after August 1st of the current year to ensure it reflects the seasonally appropriate vaccine.