Vaccination & Immunity

OccWellbeing provides immunisations against vaccine-preventable disease that pose a risk to both healthcare professionals and their patients as recommended by the UKHSA Green Book Chapter 12.

In accordance with the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974) and Control of Substances Hazardous to Health regulations employers have a legal duty to ensure that healthcare workers do not pose a risk of infection to patients. Similarly, it is essential to ensure that staff are protected from infection. The purpose of work-based immunisation programmes is to ensure immunisation against common communicable infections and biological hazards in the workplace.

Immunisation of healthcare and laboratory workers is intended to:

• Protect the individual and their family from an occupationally acquired infection.
• Protect patients and service users, including vulnerable patients who may not respond well to their own immunisation.
• Protect other healthcare staff.
• Allow for the efficient running of services without disruption.

It is recommended that immunisation programmes are managed by Occupational Health Services with appropriately qualified specialists.

Staff considered to be at risk of exposure to pathogens will be sent a letter offering routine pre-exposure immunisation in keeping with the relevant chapters from the Green Book (UKHSA). https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/147882/Green-Book-Chapter-12.pdf

Non-Clinical Staff in Healthcare Settings

All staff should be up to date with their routine immunisations, e.g. tetanus, diphtheria, polio, and MMR.

Measles Mumps Rubella (MMR)

The MMR vaccine is especially important in the context of the ability of staff to transmit measles or rubella infections to vulnerable groups. While healthcare workers may need MMR vaccination for their own benefit, they should also be immune to measles and rubella to assist in protecting patients. Satisfactory evidence of protection would include documentation of having received two doses of MMR or having had positive antibody tests for measles and rubella.

Varicella

The varicella vaccine is recommended for susceptible healthcare workers who have regular patient contact but are not necessarily involved in direct patient care.

Those with a definite history of chickenpox or herpes zoster can be considered protected. Healthcare workers with a negative or uncertain history of chickenpox or herpes zoster should be serologically tested and vaccine only offered to those without varicella zoster antibody.

Staff Providing Direct Patient Care

BCG

BCG is recommended for healthcare workers who may have close contact with infectious TB patients.

Hepatitis B

A course of 4 Hepatitis B vaccination is recommended for healthcare workers who may have direct contact with patients’ blood or blood-stained body fluids. This includes any staff who are at risk of injury from blood-contaminated sharp instruments, or of being deliberately injured or bitten by patients. Antibody levels for Hepatitis B are checked 2 months after the completion of a primary course of vaccine.

Influenza

Influenza vaccination is recommended annually for frontline healthcare workers (HCWs), including non-clinical staff who have contact with patients. OccWellbeing achieve higher than national vaccination rates for frontline healthcare workers.

Staff Undertaking Exposure Prone Procedures (EPP)

All staff required to undertake Exposure Prone Procedures (EPP) or who require a Statutory Medical are seen by the OccWellbeing team before their start date otherwise Fitness for Work cannot be assured.