Hepatitis B status must be known for medical school

All students who are offered places at medical school will have to provide certificates to show they have been immunised against hepatitis B before they can start their courses. Those students who are infective carriers of hepatitis B virus will not be allowed to study medicine (see editorial on p 870).

The Committee of Vice Chancellors and Principals (CVCP) issued guidance last week on immunisation to the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (formerly UCCA) after receiving advice from the Council of Deans of United Kingdom Medical Schools and Faculties. The admissions service will include the information in its handbook for applicants.

The guidance states that “medical schools are mindful of their overriding duty of care to the public with whom medical students come into close contact at an early stage of their studies.” It says that all the deans have agreed that successful applicants must have proof “of non-infectivity and immunisation against hepatitis B by the time of registration.” The guidance is likely to come into force by autumn …