IMMUNIZATION RECOMMENDATIONS

FOR HEALTHCARE WORKERS

WHY IMMUNIZE?

Many diseases can be prevented with vaccination. Immunization helps protect your health and prevents disease transmission between you and your family, patients, clients or residents. This is important because, as a health care worker, you are more at risk of exposure to communicable disease in the workplace. Providence Health Care provides free vaccinations at any staff immunization clinic. OH&S will keep a confidential record of all your immunizations and laboratory tests and you should keep a copy as well.

When you come to an immunization drop in clinic, bring your immunization records with you. If you are a new employee and have not yet done your immunization assessment, call the Workplace Health Call Centre where Occupational Health Nurses are available: 1-866-922-9464 Monday to Friday (excluding statutory holidays) from 0700 – 1700

Recommended vaccinations for PHC employees:

Hepatitis B Measles, Mumps, Rubella Varicella (Chickenpox)

Influenza Tetanus/Diphtheria Tuberculosis screening (PHC & VCH sites)

RECOMMENDED ROUTINE IMMUNIZATIONS

Hepatitis B is a virus that attacks the liver. It can cause serious disease including permanent liver damage (cirrhosis). Hepatitis B is also the main cause of liver cancer, which can be fatal. Hepatitis B virus is spread from one infected person to another by contact with blood or body fluids. Mothers who are infected with hepatitis B virus can pass the virus to their newborn babies during delivery.

Recommendation: Hepatitis B vaccine is recommended for health care providers who may be exposed to blood or body fluids through needle stick or other similar injuries, bites or splashes. You are considered immune to Hepatitis B if you have completed a series of Hepatitis B vaccines (3 doses) and have a lab test result indicating immunity. People who do not develop immunity to an initial series will be offered a second series of vaccine.

References: HealthlinkBC File #66; HealthlinkBC #51; BCCDC immunization manual / S:\Clinic Nurses - Confidential\Posters Rev Apr 8, 2014

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Influenza is an infection of the upper airway caused by the influenza virus. A person with influenza is at risk for other infections, including viral or bacterial pneumonia. All health care workers are at risk for getting and spreading the influenza virus to their patients, families and friends. It is important to prevent spreading the virus to people at high risk of complications from influenza, such as the elderly or those with heart or lung disorders, weakened immune systems or other chronic medical conditions.

Recommendation: All PHC employees, members of the Medical Staff (physicians), residents, volunteers, students, contractors, and vendors must be vaccinated annually against influenza or wear a surgical/procedure mask during influenza season when in a patient care area in accordance with the PHC Influenza Control Program Policy. Above individuals can receive a free shot through on-site clinics, from their family physician, community pharmacies or Public Health.

Tetanus is an acute and often fatal disease. While rare in Canada, cases have been reported that are associated with contaminated injection drug use, animal bites and wounds. Diphtheria is a serious communicable disease, causing death in five to 10 percent of cases, with the highest rates among the very young and the elderly.

Recommendation: Tetanus/Diphtheria booster doses are recommended every 10 years.

Measles is a highly contagious virus that can cause a fever, rash, inflamed eyes, cold-like symptoms and inflammation of the brain, which can lead to seizures, deafness or brain damage. It can be more severe in infants, children and adults with weakened immune systems.

Recommendation: Born on or after 1957: 2 doses of measles vaccination given at least one month apart OR lab test indicating immunity. Those born 1956 and earlier have likely had the disease and are considered immune.

Mumps is a disease caused by a virus. It can cause fever, headaches and swelling of the salivary glands and cheeks. It can lead to serious illness, such as inflammation of the brain, seizures or brain damage. Mumps can also cause temporary deafness and painful testicular swelling for males.

Recommendation: Born 1957 – 1969, one dose of mumps containing vaccine is recommended. If born 1970 and later, two doses of mumps containing vaccine given at least one month apart OR acute case of mumps diagnosed by a physician with lab confirmation of acute disease. Those born 1956 and earlier have likely had the disease and are considered immune.

Rubella infection in adults may cause swelling and pain in the joints. Infections in the first three months of pregnancy have an 85% risk of causing severe damage to the developing baby. Rubella outbreaks in health care facilities are of particular concern due to the potential spread to pregnant women.

Recommendation: One dose of rubella vaccine or a lab test indicating immunity. Measles, Mumps and Rubella

Varicella (chickenpox) infection tends to be more severe in adults. During early pregnancy, the virus can cause problems for the developing baby. The virus stays in your body and may become active again causing shingles, a painful viral infection of the nervous tissue.

Recommendation: Immunity includes history of disease after age 12 months, physician-diagnosed varicella disease or herpes zoster (shingles), a lab test indicating immunity, or documentation of two doses of varicella vaccine given at least 6 weeks apart.

Tuberculosis (TB) is an infection caused by slow-growing bacteria that grows best in areas of the body that have lots of blood and oxygen. TB is either latent or active. TB is most often found in the lungs (pulmonary TB), which can be contagious in a person with active TB.

Recommendation: Baseline TB screening upon hire. TB skin testing annually for hospital staff if skin test is negative. The Workplace Health Call Centre works closely with Infection Control and TB Control to identify employees who may have been exposed to TB and assessments will be done on an individual basis.

Questions? Attend a Staff Immunization Clinic; Email

Call the Workplace Health Call Centre Occupational Health Nurse

References: HealthlinkBC File #66; HealthlinkBC #51; BCCDC immunization manual / S:\Clinic Nurses - Confidential\Posters Rev Apr 8, 2014

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