Employee Vaccinations and Screening
To protect residents and employees from vaccine-preventable diseases, a comprehensive occupational vaccination programme should be implemented, which includes
A vaccination policy
Maintenance of current employee vaccination records
Provision of information about the relevant vaccine-preventable diseases
The management of vaccine refusal
The risk management of unvaccinated staff should also consider the transmission of disease to vulnerable residents
Pre-employment vaccination and vaccination screening to assist with the process of identifying and managing associated risks
Consideration may need to be given to employees with contraindications to receiving any of the recommended vaccinations.
Vaccinations recommended for healthcare workers
To determine the level of risk and vaccine requirements, it is more accurate to consider work activities rather than position titles. In addition to the recommended vaccines listed below, all adults should be up-to-date with age-appropriate scheduled vaccines.
Both the Australian and New Zealand Immunisation Handbooks recommend the following vaccinations for all healthcare workers and students directly caring for residents or handling human tissue, blood, or body fluids
Hepatitis B
MMR (Measles/Mumps/Rubella)
Pertussis (dTpa (diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis))
Varicella (chicken pox)
Influenza
Covid-19.
In addition, the hepatitis A vaccine is recommended for the following healthcare workers
Those who work in remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
Those who work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in the Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, or Western Australia
Others as specified in state and territory legislation
Australia only: Consider BCG (bacilli Calmette-Guerin) vaccine for those healthcare workers who may be at increased risk of exposure to drug-resistant tuberculosis in accordance with state and territory guidelines.
COVID-19
See updated information on COVID-19 vaccinations
Evidence of vaccination/immunity
Healthcare workers are required to provide documented evidence of vaccination/immunity, and the facility will keep records of this. Documented evidence may include the following
Records of vaccines given, which should include date and vaccine batch number, and signed by either the medical officer or vaccinator
Copy of AIR (Australian Immunisation Record) report where available or report obtained from primary healthcare provider detailing vaccination/immunity records
Copy of pathology report or signed certificate by a medical officer where relevant
See https://www.immune.org.nz/factsheets/occupation-related-immunisation for more details.
Vaccination screening
The following table outlines the required documentation to be provided as evidence of vaccination coverage when screening staff.
| Vaccine | Screening notes |
|---|---|
| Hepatitis B | Documented evidence of the history of age-appropriate course hepatitis B vaccine AND Anti-HBs >10mIU/mL OR Documented evidence of antiHBc, indicating past hepatitis B infection, or HBsAg+ |
| Influenza | Documented evidence of one dose of current seasonal influenza vaccine Serology is not accepted |
| Measles/Mumps/Rubella (MMR) |
2 doses of MMR vaccine at least one month apart OR Positive lgG for measles, mumps, and rubella OR Birthdate before 1966 (1969 in NZ) |
| Diphtheria/Tetanus/Pertussis (dTpa) |
One adult dose of dTpa vaccine within the past 10 years Serology is not accepted ADT vaccine is not accepted |
| Varicella (Chicken Pox) |
2 doses of varicella vaccine at least one month apart OR positive lgG for varicella |
| Tuberculosis (TB) screening |
Refer to individual state and territory guidelines (only available in NZ for specific at-risk groups) |
| Covid-19 | Refer to national, state, and territory guidelines |
Healthcare workers who do not meet the above requirements should be referred to a Doctor or primary healthcare vaccinator for review, catch-up vaccinations, or evidence of exemption.
Access The Australian Immunisation Handbook or the NZ Immunisation Handbook (2022) for further details.