The Australian Immunisation Handbook 10th Edition 2013

3.3.7 Vaccination of persons at occupational risk
Certain occupations, particularly those associated with healthcare, are associated
with an increased risk of some vaccine-preventable diseases. 168,169 Furthermore,
some infected workers, particularly healthcare workers and those working in
early childhood education and care, may transmit infections such as influenza,
rubella, measles, mumps, varicella and pertussis to susceptible contacts, with
the potential for serious health outcomes. Many infectious diseases, measles in
particular, are highly infectious several days before symptoms become apparent.
Healthcare workers employed within the public health system should check
local state or territory healthcare worker immunisation requirements and the
necessary documentation required (see Appendix 1 Contact details for Australian,
state and territory government health authorities and communicable disease control).
Where workers are at significant occupational risk of acquiring a vaccinepreventable
disease, the employer should implement a comprehensive
occupational vaccination program, which includes a vaccination policy, current
staff vaccination records, provision of information about the relevant vaccinepreventable
diseases, and the management of vaccine refusal (e.g. reducing
the risk of a healthcare worker transmitting disease to vulnerable persons).
Employers should take all reasonable steps to encourage non-immune workers to
be vaccinated.
Current recommended vaccinations for persons at risk of occupationally acquired
vaccine-preventable diseases are listed in Table 3.3.7. In addition to the vaccines
specific to a person’s occupation and work-related activities recommended here,
all adults should be up to date with routinely recommended vaccines, such as
dT-containing and MMR vaccines. (See also Table 2.1.12 in 2.1.5 Catch-up.)
Standard precautions should be adopted where there is risk of occupational
exposure to blood and body fluids. Preventive measures include the appropriate
handling and disposal of sharps, the donning of gloves when handling body
fluids, and the use of goggles/face shields when splashes are likely.
If a non-immune person is exposed to a vaccine-preventable disease, postexposure
prophylaxis should be administered where indicated (see relevant
disease-specific chapters in Part 4, and Part 5 Passive immunisation).
PART 3 VACCINATION FOR SPECIAL RISK GROUPS 169
3.3 GROUPS WITH SPECIAL
VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS