Vaccinations

Policy Statement

Immunisation will be used as a control measure for any work or study activities which poses risk of exposure to infectious agents or toxins where, despite use of other controls, a hazardous exposure may still occur and where acceptably safe and effective vaccines are available. 

Risks may arise through laboratory work with pathogens or toxins, human or animal tissues, work or study activity in a clinical environment, contact with human or animal waste products, fieldwork or through travel abroad

Immunisation will be a mandatory control measure:

1. For work where there is high risk of fatal or severe disease if exposure occurred & the risk assessment for the work concludes there is a significant risk of exposure.
    or
2. Where immunisation is necessary to meet a NHS Trust’s health clearance standard to work with patients

Immunisation will be a recommended control measure: where it can provide protection against infection or toxin-induced damage, but the risk of fatal or severe disease if exposure occurred is assessed as low or the likelihood of exposure occurring is assessed as low.

Immunisation will be unnecessary for an individual with demonstrable evidence of immunity or of successful prior immunisation against the risk.

Responsibilities

Heads of Departments

1. Ensuring that all work undertaken by members of the department complies with this policy.

Principal Investigators, Line Managers, Course Organisers

1. Ensuring that, for all work under their control that poses a specific risk of exposure to a human pathogen or toxin, immunisation is considered as a control measure
2. Where immunisation is identified as a control measure ensuring that all those exposed to the risk are informed of this and that arrangements for being vaccinated are in place before work begins
3. Where vaccination is a mandatory control measure, ensuring that an individual does not start work until they have completed the required vaccination schedule.
4. Where vaccination is a recommended control measure, ensuring that any person declining vaccination or unable because of health reasons to be vaccinated is aware of and complies with any additional controls to mitigate their risk.
5. Informing the OH Service of new work or study programmes which may generate a need for immunisation of those involved.

The Director of Occupational Health

1. Ensuring provision of appropriate vaccination services.
2. Providing expert advice on the availability of and appropriate use of vaccines as a control measure.

Staff, students & academic visitors

1. Complying with vaccination recommendations.
2. Complying with arrangements for maintaining immunity through booster vaccinations, where advised
3. Providing proof of their vaccination status or immunity to their manager or course organiser where required.
   
   

Revision History

August 2018: Reviewed (Claire O'Brien, Director of Occupational Health)