Dealing with
Infectious Disease
Regulations and
National Quality
Standards
Policy
Regulation 88; 168(2)(c)
National Quality Standards 2.1
Child and Staff Illness:
Our Early Learning Centre recommend that children and staff be immunised against the
following infectious illnesses;








Whooping Cough
Diphtheria
Poliomyelitis
Measles
Mumps
Rubella (German Measles )
Meningococcal
Hepatitis B
Whilst this is a personal decision, the centre must take precautions for the safety and health of all the
children at the centre and the staff.
This information is recorded on the enrolment forms and updated as necessary.
We request that parents and carers inform the staff about each new immunisation.
If an outbreak of any of the above illnesses occurs within the centre, unimmunised children and staff will be
excluded from the centre for the period of the outbreak which is determined by the Health Authorities.
Should the centre be notified by a parent or staff member of the above infectious disease, the Director will
follow the “Staying Healthy in Childcare” book “4th Edition” and notify the local health authority. The Director
will comply with the requests of the local health authority. This is a precaution for their health and the rest of
the centre.
Should the centre be notified by a parent or staff member of an infectious disease where no immunisation is
available, the Director will follow the “Staying Healthy in Childcare” book “4th Edition” and notify the local
health authority where advised. The Director will comply with the requests of the local health authority. The
exclusion periods as documented in the “Staying Healthy in Childcare” book “4th Edition” will also be followed.
This is a precaution for their health and the rest of the centre.
The “Staying Healthy in Childcare” book “4th Edition” is available to families , by asking the centre director or
visiting http://www.nhmrc.gov.au/_files_nhmrc/publications/attachments/ch43.pdf
We request that children who are obviously sick are not brought to the centre.
Should a child become sick at the centre, the parent or carer will be contacted and requested they collect
their child.
A clearance letter from the child’s doctor may be required if there is any doubt of the child’s suitability to
return to the centre.
Diarrhoea and vomiting are considered contagious and it is centre policy that where this is evident, the child is
to be kept away from the centre.
The centre has a fact sheet on symptoms of illness, which may be of assistance to you and your child. This is
posted within the centre and copies are available upon request.
Heath Authorities Contact Details:
Public Health Queensland:
South Coast (Gold Coast): 0755097222
Dealing with
Infectious Disease
Child Immunisation:
Epidemics of infectious diseases such as Pertussis (whooping cough), Tetanus, Diphtheria, Measles, Rubella and
Polio have been rare in Queensland in recent years because most people in the community have been immunised
against them. It is therefore easy to become complacent about the need to have children immunised. These
diseases do continue to exist within our community along with Hib and hepatitis and unimmunised children are
not only at risk themselves, but also put other children at risk. We respect the right of parents to not
immunise their children or to seek homeopathic protection for their families. However, if an outbreak of one of
the diseases listed above occurs within the Centre, unimmunised children will be excluded for the period of the
outbreak.
Upon enrolment in our Centre, all parents will be asked to provide a copy of their child’s vaccination records
and parents whose children are not immunised will be made aware of our exclusion policy, even if their child is
well, in the event of an outbreak of one of the listed diseases.
Parents are asked to complete immunisation update forms annually as their children receive vaccinations
recommended for their age group.
Wall charts advising appropriate immunisation schedules are displayed throughout the Centre and are available
at http://www.medicareaustralia.gov.au/provider/patients/acir/schedule.jsp.
Families and staff are advised to access up to date information about immunisation at
www.health.gov.au/pubhlth/immunise , searching under publications for the Australian Immunisation Handbook.
Staff Immunisation:
It is the recommendation of the centre that all staff are immunised against Vaccine preventable diseases. The
centre provides staff with comprehensive information in relation to all Vaccine-preventable diseases in our
Workplace Health and Safety Manual and ensures all staff completes Staff Immunisation Records on
commencement of employment. Should staff update their immunisations, the centre requires the staff member
to update their Immunisation Record. If staff are unsure as to their immunisation history, the staff member is
required to seek this information from a medical practitioner; this may include a blood test for immunity.
Workers who do not provide a completed Staff Immunisation Record will be treated as Non- Immunised.
In the event a staff member chooses to not be immunised and an outbreak of a vaccine- preventable disease
occurs the Director will contact the Public Health Unit to seek prompt advise and the non –immunised staff
member will be unable to work until deemed safe by the Public Health Unit.
The Medical Research Council recommends that childcare workers should be vaccinated against:
 Hepatitis A
 Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) (for childcare workers born during or since 1966 who have not had
two doses of MMR and non –immunised workers)
 Varicella (for childcare workers who have not previously been infected with chicken pox)
 Pertussis (especially for those workers caring for the youngest children who are not fully vaccinated)
 Although the risk is low, staff of child day care centres should seek advice about hepatitis B
vaccination.
Volunteers and students who undertake practicum placements are also at risk of exposure to diseases that are
preventable by vaccination therefore will be required to complete an Immunisation Record on commencement
of placement and the above procedures for Non- Immunised staff members will apply to volunteers and
students.
Child care workers who are pregnant need to be aware of how some infections can affect the unborn child.
The following infectious disease pose a risk to pregnant Early Childhood Staff:

Rubella

Varicella (Chicken Pox)

Cytomegalovirus (CMV

Parvovirus B19 (Slapped Cheek Syndrome)
Comprehensive information relating to these diseases should be read by pregnant staff or those trying to fall
pregnant. This can be found in our Workplace Health and Safety Manual.
To protect pregnant staff against infectious disease the centre will relocate pregnant workers to work with
the over – two year olds because contact with urine and saliva will be reduced. If this is not practical, seek
advice from a medical practitioner about whether the worker should have occupational contact with the under
two year olds during her pregnancy. This will need to be certified by a doctor’s letter.
CMV (Cytomegalovirus) People who have contact with young children and are exposed to children’s urine and
salvia are at risk of CMV infection. Further information on CMV is provided to staff in their Workplace Health
Dealing with
Infectious Disease
Supporting
Documentation
and Safety Manual. Pregnant staff should contact their doctor for a blood test to check for previous infection.
Rubella Rubella is vaccine –preventable and therefore the risk will be treated as per our Staff Health Policy.
Should an outbreak occur, pregnant staff who are not immunised against Rubella will be excluded from the
service and will be required to seek prompt medical referral.
Chicken Pox ( Varicella) is vaccine – preventable and therefore the risk will be treated as per our Staff
Health Policy. Should an out break occur, pregnant staff who are not immunised against Chicken Pox will be
excluded from the service and will be required to seek prompt medical referral for assessment of postexposure Prophylaxis (PEP of varicella zoster immunoglobulin within 96 hours of exposure).
Parvovirus B19 In the event of an outbreak, pregnant staff are required to consult with a medical practitioner
to assess immunity via a blood test. Previous infection will protect against further infection. If a pregnant
staff member is non-immune, seek advice from the medical practitioner about whether the staff member
should have contact during the outbreak. A doctor’s letter will be required to verify this.
Should a staff member become pregnant or are trying to become pregnant it is recommended that you confide
in your Director as soon as possible. It is also recommended to advise your doctor that you work in the Child
Care industry and discuss risks to the above infectious disease’s with them and ascertain immunity through
blood tests.
Pregnant volunteers and students who undertake practicum placements are also at risk of exposure to these
diseases therefore will have to adhere to the above stated.
The cost of vaccination and medical consultation will be at the staff member’s personal expense. Accrued sick
and annual leave can be accessed by Non-Immunised staff in the event of an outbreak of a vaccine –
preventable disease or an infectious disease that could adversely affect a pregnant staff member and her
unborn child.
All staff are continually required to use safe health and hygiene practices.
It is important to protect yourself against all infectious disease. Apart from Immunisation staff should be
aware of the following safe work practices: Protection against contact with urine and saliva, including hand
washing, hygiene, covering cuts, not kissing children on the mouth, wearing disposable gloves where contact
with urine, nasal secretions and saliva is likely, teaching children cough etiquette, and regular cleaning of toys,
equipment and the work environment.

Child enrolment form

Administration Update Form

Illness log

Staying Healthy in Child Care 4th Edition

Immunisation schedules
Sourced
Staying Healthy in Childcare 4th Edition, www.health.gov.au/pubhlth/immunise, Workplace Health and Safety
Queensland
Reviewed
Annually
Version
1 (20.5.2013)
Dealing with
Infectious Disease