Required Vaccinations/Screenings
Mumps, Measles and Rubella (MMR)
All prospective medical students should be immune (from documented infection) or fully vaccinated. Candidates should produce official records of previous vaccinations or serological screening results or physician documented diagnoses of previous infection as proof of immunity. Self-declaration is not sufficient.
A student may begin classes without documentary evidence of immunisation for MMR if he/she has a letter from a physician stating that there is a reason why he/she cannot receive the vaccine.
Varicella (Chickenpox)
All prospective medical students must be immune to and/or vaccinated for the Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV). Candidates should either be screened for immunity or produce official records of previous vaccinations as proof of immunity. Self-declaration is only acceptable if the history of varicella was based on physician diagnosis. When past history of varicella is uncertain, a serology test should be carried out to confirm immunity against varicella.
A student may begin classes without documentary evidence of immunisation for Chickenpox if:
He/she has a letter from a physician stating that there is a reason why he/she cannot receive the vaccine;
He/she concerned has documented evidence of two administrations of the varicella vaccine (non-responders).
Pertusis
All prospective medical students should produce documented proof of vaccination with Tdap.
Those who have not previously received tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid and acellular pertussis (Tdap) should be vaccinated with a single dose of Tdap, regardless of the interval since the last dose of tetanus or diphtheria-containing vaccine.
Proof of vaccination with Td alone is insufficient. Self-declaration is not accepted as proof of immunity.
Hepatitis B
All prospective medical students should be immune (from documented infection) or fully vaccinated. Candidates should produce official records of previous vaccinations or serological screening results, or physician documented diagnoses of previous infection as proof of immunity. Self-declaration is not sufficient.
A student may begin classes without documentary evidence of immunisation for Hepatitis B if he/she has a letter from a physician stating that there is a reason why he/she cannot receive the vaccine.
Hepatitis C
All prospective medical students must be screened for hepatitis C.
HIV
All prospective medical students must be screened for HIV.
Screening should be carried out before final admission into the course, as results may affect students’ career choices. Students tested positive for Hep B, Hep C and/or HIV will be counselled to understand that their areas of practice may be restricted in future to non-exposure-prone procedure areas.
Covid-19
All prospective medical students have to receive 2 doses of COVID-19 mRNA or non-mRNA vaccine in accordance with the Singapore Government’s requirements. Should healthcare students, who are medically eligible for any of the COVID-19 vaccines under the National Vaccination Programme (NVP), choose to remain unvaccinated, they will not be able to participate in clinical postings in hospital and community care settings. This would risk them not meeting clinical training requirements necessary for graduation.
