IM M U NIZ ATIO N RE CO M M E NDATIO NS
FO R HE ALTHCARE WO RKE RS
WHY IMMUNIZE?
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. Providence Health Care provides free vaccinations at any staff immunization clinic.
OH&S will keep a confidential record of all your immunizations and laboratory tests and you should keep
a copy as well.
When you come to an immunization drop in clinic, bring your immunization records with you. If you
are a new employee and have not yet done your immunization assessment, call the Workplace Health
Call Centre where Occupational Health Nurses are available: 1-866-922-9464 Monday to Friday
(excluding statutory holidays) from 0700 – 1700
Recommended vaccinations for PHC employees:
Hepatitis B
Measles, Mumps, Rubella
Influenza
Tetanus/Diphtheria
Varicella (Chickenpox)
Tuberculosis screening (PHC & VCH sites)
RECOMMENDED ROUTINE IMMUNIZATIONS
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.
Recommendation: Hepatitis B vaccine is recommended 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 of vaccine.
Influenza is an infection of the upper airway caused by the influenza virus. A person with influenza is
at risk for other infections, including viral or bacterial pneumonia. All health care workers are at risk for
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.
Recommendation: All PHC employees, members of the Medical Staff (physicians), residents, volunteers,
students, contractors, and vendors must be vaccinated annually against influenza or wear a
surgical/procedure mask during influenza season when in a patient care area in accordance with the
PHC Influenza Control Program Policy. Above individuals can receive a free shot through on-site clinics,
from their family physician, community pharmacies or Public Health.
References: HealthlinkBC File #66; HealthlinkBC #51; BCCDC
immunization manual
S:\Clinic Nurses - Confidential\Posters Rev Apr 8, 2014
1
Tetanus is an acute and often fatal disease. While rare in Canada, cases have been reported that are
associated with contaminated injection drug use, animal bites and wounds. Diphtheria is a serious
communicable disease, causing death in five to 10 percent of cases, with the highest rates among the
very young and the elderly.
Recommendation: Tetanus/Diphtheria booster doses are recommended every 10 years.
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.
Recommendation: Born on 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.
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 containing vaccine is recommended. If born
1970 and later, two doses of mumps containing 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.
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. Measles, Mumps and
Rubella
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 your body and may become active again
causing shingles, a painful viral infection of the nervous tissue.
Recommendation: Immunity includes history of disease after age 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 6 weeks apart.
Tuberculosis (TB) is an infection caused by slow-growing bacteria that grows best in areas of the
body that have lots of blood and oxygen. TB is either latent or active. TB is most often found in the
lungs (pulmonary TB), which can be contagious in a person with active TB.
Recommendation: Baseline TB screening upon hire. TB skin testing annually for hospital staff if skin
test is negative. The Workplace Health Call Centre works closely with Infection Control and TB Control
to identify employees who may have been exposed to TB and assessments will be done on an individual
basis.
Questions? Attend a Staff Immunization Clinic; Email clinicnursesOHS@providencehealth.bc.ca
References: HealthlinkBC File #66; HealthlinkBC #51; BCCDC
immunization manual
S:\Clinic Nurses - Confidential\Posters Rev Apr 8, 2014
2
Call the Workplace Health Call Centre Occupational Health Nurse
References: HealthlinkBC File #66; HealthlinkBC #51; BCCDC
immunization manual
S:\Clinic Nurses - Confidential\Posters Rev Apr 8, 2014
3