The purpose of immunisations is to provide you with protection against possible contact and subsequent infection from certain diseases. It is your employer’s responsibility to provide you with certain safeguards – immunisations against Ooccupational disease is one of them. However, it is an individual’s responsibility to attend promptly for vaccinations and to ensure that they have fulfilled their responsibility to keep colleagues, patients and relatives protected against preventable diseases. You must also keep a copy of any test results and vaccinations.
The need for vaccination relating to work is done by a risk assessment. The Occupational Health Advisor can assess the immune status of individuals and vaccinate them as required. Evidence based advice can also be given where vaccination is declined or contra-indicated. Vaccination programmes will be designed to meet the requirements / guidance of the Department of Health and Social Care in the UK and the UK Health Protection Agency (UKHSA).
The types of work where vaccination may be required are as follows;
- Where there is likely exposure to human pathogens or biological toxins.
- Where there is handling of human blood, serum or tissue specimens.
- Where workers are in contact with human or animal waste.
- Where workers are placed in a clinical setting such as a hospital environment, hospice, or care home.
- All professionals joining the NHS Performers list for NHS England.
- For staff travelling abroad on Trust business.
Travelling Abroad for Holidays or to visit Family and Friends
We do not run a travel clinic for staff for personal travel. Staff are strongly advised to check online for advice at least four weeks before travelling.
- There is excellent travel health advice available via NaTHNAC which was set up by the Department of Health.
Travel Health Pro: NaTHNaC
- Staff Visiting Friends and Family (VFF) abroad are often at increased risk of illness - even if they have lived in the country previously - as immunity can be lost.
Travel Health Pro: Travelling to Visit Friends and Relatives
Volunteering / Working Abroad including Sabbaticals
If staff undertaken any clinical activities abroad where exposure prone procedures (EPPs) are undertaken e.g., surgeons, midwives (or any other EPP roles) they are NOT permitted to return to work doing EPP work until updated blood tests have been taken for HIV, Hepatitis C and Hepatitis B in the UK on their return. They must liaise with occupational health to arrange this before travel and factor in the time it will take between having your blood test and getting the results back – potentially at least 5 working days and potentially longer when calculating how much annual leave will be needed.
