Incoming DVM Class of 2027 & Veterinary Nursing Class of 2026 Students
Congratulations on your acceptance to the College of Veterinary Medicine! We are excited that you will be joining us during your training phase for this wonderful career. At Purdue, your health and safety during this time are of utmost importance. For this reason, we have established a Student Health Policy that recommends vaccinations and testing important for your health as a veterinary medical or veterinary nursing student.
By October Break (October 9, 2023) of your first semester in the College of Veterinary Medicine, it is required that you have received the following:
DVM students are required to complete the three-dose series of rabies vaccinations prior to the October break of their first year.
VN students are required to complete the first two-doses of their rabies vaccination at least two-weeks prior to program matriculation with the third-dose prior to the October break of their first year in the program.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it is important that all professionals who work extensively with animals (like veterinarians, veterinary students, veterinary nurses, and veterinary nursing students) be vaccinated for rabies. The CDC recommendations were updated May 6, 2022, and this vaccine series now requires two pre-exposure vaccinations for rabies prior to extensive work in the clinics. You will need a follow-up blood test or booster shot in one year. You may be able to obtain these vaccinations through your family physician, health clinic, or pharmacy in your hometown. The vaccinations and TB test are available on campus after you arrive at Purdue in the fall.
The cash cost of the rabies vaccination series administered through the Purdue University Pharmacy (PUP) previously has been about $750 and is covered by many insurance policies. The cost of these services will be applied to your university account. If your insurance company denies your claim, PVM Student Services can provide letters of justification for insurance companies verifying that the rabies vaccination is a program requirement and a CDC recommendation. However, some insurance companies will only pay for the vaccinations if they are administered by an in-network provider. Please check with your insurance company regarding their coverage of these vaccinations. If your insurance company will cover only vaccinations given by your network provider, your cost will be lower if you arrange for the vaccinations this summer prior to the start of the Fall Semester. Since the three vaccines in the rabies series are given over a couple months period, you should begin these vaccinations as soon as possible if you arrange them on your own.
This vaccination series is an important investment in your personal and professional safety. If a person is exposed to rabies, but has not received the protective vaccination, the treatment costs much more than the preventive vaccines would have!
Some students may have difficulty getting the rabies vaccination in their hometown, so the College has arranged through the PUP to offer vaccinations after you arrive on campus. Tetanus boosters, the TB test, and other needed vaccines can also be obtained at PUP or Purdue University Student Health (PUSH). Please be aware that the PUP or PUSH is not a preferred provider for all health insurance companies. Testing and immunizations received via the Purdue University Student Health Center may not be covered by your insurance or may be covered at lower out-of-network rates with more cost to you. For more information about your health insurance coverage, you may contact your insurance provider or PUP at 765-494-1374. You can check the Purdue University Student Health website at www.purdue.edu/push or call them at 765-494-1700 for more information about health insurance coverage.
***In order to participate in the vaccination program at the Purdue College of Veterinary Medicine through PUP, you will need to bring a copy of the front and back of your insurance card along with the name and date of birth of the primary policy holder.***
In addition to the Purdue College of Veterinary Medicine-specific vaccination requirements, Purdue University requires other immunizations. You can check the PUSH website at https://www.purdue.edu/push/immunization/index.html for the details. The university requires adequate immunization against or proof of immunity to measles, mumps, and rubella. Other university-required immunizations include meningococcal combination vaccine, meningococcal B vaccine, and tetanus immunization. You will save time if you bring proof of the meningococcal, tetanus and MMR vaccines (or blood test results demonstrating immunity to measles, mumps, and rubella) to LAUNCH! DVM 2027 to help you complete the Purdue University immunization entries. You are required to enter the dates you had these immunizations in the PUSH patient portal found at myhealth.push.purdue.edu. If you are not able to access the patient portal, you may need to wait until the first week of classes to enter the information online.
At the time of this letter, a COVID vaccination is not required by Purdue University or the College of Veterinary Medicine. We strongly encourage you to complete get a COVID vaccination before you arrive on campus to protect yourself and others from COVID.
We look forward to having you here at Purdue. If I can be of any assistance in answering your questions about rabies vaccinations or other health-related issues, please don't hesitate to email me at julstout@purdue.edu.
Sincerely,
Julianne Stout, MD
Student Health Policy Coordinator
College of Veterinary Medicine
Purdue University
