Download IMMUNIZATION RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PHSA EMPLOYEES

IMMUNIZATION
RECOMMENDATIONS
FOR
PHSA EMPLOYEES
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. PHSA provides free vaccinations to
staff at any of its immunization clinics.
New Employees: Call the Workplace Health Call Centre to report and discuss your
immunizations. Have your immunization records on hand. You may be referred to a
staff immunization clinic, your family physician or another alternate service.
What to expect:
 You will be asked to report the day/month/year of previous immunizations or results
of related testing.
 The Occupational Health Nurse will complete an immunity and risk status assessment, and recommend vaccinations
if needed.
Workplace Health strongly recommends that employees take advantage of this benefit to avoid the spread of
communicable diseases, but the final choice whether to receive these vaccinations is up to each employee. Vaccinations
are available at no cost to PHSA employees.
Current Employees (employed >3 months): Please send all available immunity records to the PHSA Occupational
Health Nurse via our confidential fax (604-708-2021) or email ([email protected]). Use your work
email to ensure it is secure. Alternatively, you can bring your records to any PHSA Workplace Health Immunization clinic.
Recommendation: Born in 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. Vaccination will be given as MMR.
MUMPS
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 vaccine OR Born 1970 and later:
two doses of mumps 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. Vaccinations will be given as MMR.
RUBELLA
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.
Vaccination will be given as MMR.
Tetanus also known as lockjaw, is caused by bacteria mostly
found in the soil. When the bacteria enter the skin through a cut or
scrape, they produce a poison that can cause painful tightening of
muscles all over the body. It is very serious if the breathing
muscles are affected. Up to 1 in 5 people who get tetanus may die.
Recommendation:
Tetanus/Diphtheria booster dose
recommended every 10 years.
MEASLES
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.
TETANUS Recommended vaccinations for PHSA employees:
Revised15March2016
References: HealthLinkBC Files 2013
IMMUNIZATION
RECOMMENDATIONS
FOR
PHSA EMPLOYEES
DIPHTHERIA Recommendation:
Tetanus/Diphtheria booster dose
recommended every 10 years.
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 the body and may become
active again causing shingles, a painful viral infection of the
nervous tissue.
Recommendation: Immunity includes history
of disease after the age of 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 six weeks
apart.
INFLUENZA
Diphtheria is a serious infection of the nose and throat caused by
diphtheria bacteria. The bacteria are spread through the air by
people sneezing or coughing and by direct skin-to-skin contact.
The disease can result in very serious breathing problems. It can
also cause heart failure and paralysis. About 1 in 10 people who
get diphtheria may die.
CHICKEPOX
Influenza (‘flu’) is an infection of the upper airway caused by the
influenza virus. A person with influenza is at risk of other infections,
including viral or bacterial pneumonia. All health care workers are
at risk of 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.
Requirement:
All PHSA employees, including Medical Staff
(physicians, residents, dentists and midwives),
volunteers, students, contractors, and vendors
must be vaccinated annually against influenza
or wear a surgical/procedure mask during
influenza season (approximately the beginning
of December to the end of March) when in a
patient care area in accordance with the PHSA
Influenza Control Program Policy. Above
individuals can receive a free shot at on-site
clinics, from their family physician, community
pharmacies or through Public Health.
HEPATITIS B
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.
POLIO
PHSA employees at all sites must report their
flu vaccination or decision to decline
vaccination at influenzareporting.phsa.ca.
Polio is a disease caused by infection with a virus. While most
polio infections show no symptoms, others can result in paralysis
of arms or legs and even death. Paralysis occurs in about 1 in 200
people infected with the polio virus. Polio can be spread by contact
with the bowel movements (stool) of an infected person. This can
happen from eating food or drinking water contaminated with stool.
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Recommendation: 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.
Recommendation: primary childhood series
then one adult booster dose for health care
providers who may be exposed to feces.
Questions?
Go to POD or BCAS Intranet.
Attend a PHSA Immunization Clinic
Email [email protected]
Revised15March2016
References: HealthLinkBC Files 2013