Are they protected? Immunity to vaccine-preventable diseases in healthcare workers at an Australian hospital.
OBJECTIVE
Australian guidelines for healthcare worker (HCW) vaccination were updated in 2010, and pre-employment assessment of new employees has previously been identified as a priority. We determined the vaccination status of a cohort of existing HCWs at a tertiary hospital in Melbourne, Victoria.


METHODS
Random sampling of HCWs employed prior to 2006 with unknown/incomplete immunisation status was conducted between April and August 2011. Immunity to vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) was determined serologically (hepatitis B, varicella, measles, mumps, rubella) and by questionnaire (diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis), with vaccination by a nurse immuniser.


RESULTS
Overall, 95 HCWs were evaluated. Mean age and duration of employment were 47.2 and 12.6 years, respectively. Forty-seven staff (49%) required vaccination to comply with Australian immunisation guidelines: 18% were non-immune to hepatitis B, 2% to varicella, 8% to measles, 19% to mumps and 13% to rubella. HCWs without serological hepatitis B immunity were all staff with clinical roles. Total costs were $7,527.34 (mean $222.79/HCW).


CONCLUSIONS
Immunity to VPDs among existing HCWs was inadequate. About half assessed HCWs were non-immune to at least one VPD, and non-immunity to hepatitis B was high. A comprehensive assessment strategy for existing employees is required to enhance vaccination coverage and compliance with national guidelines.


CONCLUSIONS
Adequately resourced 'look-back' immunisation assessment programs are required to reduce the risks of VPDs among existing staff and patients. Review of current approaches and national consensus regarding the need for mandatory strategies would assist this process.
Department of Infectious Diseases and Infection Control, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Victoria.
Vivian
V
Leung
Susan
S
Harper
Monica
M
Slavin
Karin
K
Thursky
Leon
L
Worth
D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001315:Australia; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006282:Health Personnel; D006291:Health Policy; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000517:prevention & control; D006779:Hospitals, Public; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017757:Infectious Disease Transmission, Professional-to-Patient / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008457:Measles / Q000517:prevention & control; D008875:Middle Aged; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014611:Vaccination; D014739:Victoria; D055815:Young Adult
healthcare worker (HCW); hepatitis B; vaccination; vaccine preventable disease