FAQs

Dear UMB Students,

We hope this message finds you well. We are writing to inform you about a significant change in our immunization tracking process that will enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of our compliance measures. Starting April 2024, the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) will transition from Castle Branch to EXXAT for all immunization tracking.

This change represents our commitment to providing a streamlined experience for you, our students, ensuring that we continue to meet Maryland law and public health recommendations efficiently.

What to Expect:

  • Welcome Announcement: In the coming days, you will receive an email from EXXAT to your UMB email address. This email will contain detailed instructions on how to access and navigate EXXAT using your assigned UMID and password. Additionally, EXXAT can be accessed through your SURFS accounts.
    • Wait at least two weeks to receive an invite email from EXXAT.
  • Transfer of Records: It is important to note that your immunization data will not be automatically transferred from Castle Branch to EXXAT. You will be responsible for uploading all required immunization documentation to ensure compliance. For those who have utilized Castle Branch in the past, you will have access to your records and will need to download and re-upload them to EXXAT.

Action Required:

  • Self-Upload: Please begin the process of uploading your immunization documents to EXXAT as soon as you receive your welcome email. This proactive approach will help us identify and address any potential technical issues promptly.
  • Check Program Requirements: Contact your school or program administrators to verify if there are additional compliance requirements specific to your program.

Support:

  • EXXAT Support: For assistance, you can contact EXXAT support at the provided contact details.
  • Student Health: The Student Health team is available to assist with any immunization queries. Visit our website, call, or email us for support.
  • CITS IT Help Desk: For UMID login issues, please contact the IT Help Desk at the provided email or phone number.

We appreciate your cooperation and understanding as we make this transition to EXXAT. This new system will significantly improve our ability to track immunizations, contributing to the health and safety of our community.

Should you have any questions or need further assistance, please reach out to our Student Health Center. We are here to support and guide you through this transition.

  • For additional Student Health support, visit the student health website at https://www.umaryland.edu/studenthealth/student-health-center/, call 667-214-1883, or email shealth@som.umaryland.edu.

 

Thank you for your collaboration as we implement this new and improved immunization tracking system.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can't I just give my immunization records to Student Health? 

No. Please submit your immunization requirements through EXXAT. 

I don't have my vaccine records. Where can I get titer orders to prove my immunity? 

If you are unable to obtain your immunization records, you must have a blood test (titer) performed to determine your immunity status. Please call 667-214-2233 to schedule a titer appointment or schedule online at https://www.medschool.umaryland.edu/flushot/

Whom do I contact regarding my health insurance and benefits? 

For any inquiries regarding health insurance and benefits, please contact Gallagher Student Customer Service at 844-288-4916 or visit www.gallagherstudent.com.

If I need to get vaccinations, where do I get them, and is there a fee? 

You can receive vaccinations at UMB Campus Health, formerly known as UMIC, located at 408 W. Lombard St. All immunizations required for UMB students are provided free of charge. However, you must provide documentation of an active health insurance policy.

Can I walk in at any time to get my vaccinations? 

No. Students may schedule to receive their vaccines by calling 667-214-2233 or schedule online at https://www.medschool.umaryland.edu/flushot/ to receive the vaccine at the University of Maryland Campus Health. 

My titer says I don't have immunity. Where can I get a booster/vaccine re-administered? 

Students may schedule to receive the vaccine by calling 667-214-2233 or schedule online at https://www.medschool.umaryland.edu/flushot/ to receive the vaccine at the University of Maryland Campus Health. 

Where can I get an order for the Tspot/TB Gold test? 

To obtain an order for the Tspot/TB Gold test, please call Campus Health for a telemedicine visit at 667-214-2233.

I have a positive Tspot/TB Gold test. What do I do next? 

If you have a positive Tspot/TB Gold test, please call Campus Health at 667-214-2233 to schedule a telemedicine visit for further evaluation.

My clinical site requires me to get another TB screening done closer to my start date. Do I need another TB gold/IGRA test? 

Yes, you need to follow all clinic site requirements. If your clinical site requires a new test, please call Campus Health at 667-214-2233 to order the test, specifying that it is for clinical rotation purposes.

What if I prefer PPD placement? 

While UMB Student Health recommends an IGRA TB blood test (T-spot or QuantiFERON Gold), we will still accept a PPD test. However, we do not apply the tuberculin skin test or perform result assessments for students. It is your responsibility to find an outside resource, such as a local pharmacy, for this service.

Do I need the COVID-19 Vaccine? 

Students whose educational requirements involve participating in activities at clinical or field sites are required to comply with the COVID-19 vaccine requirements of those specific sites. Students who do not meet the COVID-19 vaccine requirements of the clinical or field site may be denied participation in activities by the site.

Students may schedule to receive the COVID-19 vaccine by calling 667-214-2233 or schedule online at https://www.medschool.umaryland.edu/flushot/ to receive the vaccine at the University of Maryland Campus Health. 

Students participating in activities at clinical or field sites that require the COVID-19 vaccine must submit proof of vaccination and exemption requests to the https://cfapps.umaryland.edu/vaccine/covid

I have had chickenpox disease before; do I need to get the vaccine? 

UMB no longer accepts a history of disease as proof of immunity. If you had chickenpox but do not have proof of being vaccinated (2 vaccine dates), you must have a titer performed to document your immunity. If the titer results are negative, you must complete the vaccine series.

I have had all three Hepatitis B vaccines as a child. I have my records and provided them to Castle Branch; what is the Hepatitis B Second Action? 

All students, excluding Law students, regardless of Hepatitis B immunization status, are required to obtain a titer to establish immunity. Whether the test results are positive or negative, they must be provided to Complio. The lab results are required to fulfill the Hepatitis B Second Action.

If the titer results are negative, the student must repeat the Hepatitis B vaccination series (3 vaccines) and upload each vaccine as they are received. An additional titer should be performed 4-6 weeks after receiving the third and final vaccine, and the final titer result should also be provided to Complio.

I got titers for MMR, and I am immune to two of the three components; do I have to get a new 2-shot series of MMR? 

No, only a booster vaccine is required. If you have no immunities to all three components of the MMR vaccine, you are required to repeat the series with 2 doses of the MMR vaccine.

What if I am pregnant? Should I still get immunizations? 

If you are pregnant and have missing immunizations based on UMB's requirements, we recommend having titers drawn first. If you are not immune to a specific disease, discuss it with your OBGYN or a Student Health Provider to decide if you should be immunized or wait until delivery. If you and your provider decide to wait until after delivery to receive any immunizations, provide a letter on letterhead from your provider stating their recommendations and the estimated delivery date. Upload the letter to EXXAT and then contact Student Health immediately. EXXAT will not accept the document without clarification from Student Health.

What if I have a medical or religious exemption request? 

All requests for exemptions/accommodations must be submitted for verification and review through EXXAT.

I already submitted an exemption; do I have to do it again? 

For religious exemptions, your current exemption is valid; however, you need to provide the previously approved documentation.

For medical exemptions, your previously approved exemption is valid if it is still within the expiration date. Please upload the relevant documentation to EXXAT.

 

 

I am enrolled in an online-only program; do I need to submit my vaccinations? 

Students enrolled in online-only programs are not subjected to the policy requirements and therefore do not need to create an account or order an immunization package. However, we recommend contacting your school/program administrators or reaching out to UMB Student Health directly to confirm this exemption for online-only students.

Please note that an online-only student refers to a student who exclusively participates in their educational program or schooling through online platforms, without engaging in any in-person activities or field experiences throughout the entire duration of their studies. This means that all components of their educational journey, such as coursework, lectures, assignments, discussions, and assessments, are conducted entirely in a virtual environment, without the need for physical attendance. Online-only students typically do not have any face-to-face interactions with instructors, peers, or administrators, and they do not maintain a physical presence on campus or in other educational settings.