02 February 2007

Australian first vaccination program for health staff

Health workers in NSW will participate in a comprehensive immunisation campaign, the first of its kind in Australia, NSW Minister for Health John Hatzistergos announced today.
Mr Hatzistergos said the extensive screening and vaccination program to protect public health workers against infectious diseases such as measles, will begin roll out across health facilities immediately.
“The $5 million program will provide free vaccines to public healthcare workers in public hospitals, clinics and laboratories around NSW,” he said.
“NSW is leading the way in safeguarding both staff and patients from potentially deadly diseases.”
The revised policy follows changes in the range of vaccines available, their recommended use for healthcare professionals and an increased focus on minimising the transmission of vaccine preventable diseases between patients and staff.
“In any public health system around the world, the transmission of vaccine-preventable diseases is a real risk for patients, health care workers and visitors,” Mr Hatzistergos said.
“It is vital that we do all we can to make sure health workers are appropriately protected, as well as their patients and co-workers.”
Mr Hatzistergos said healthcare professionals who work in direct contact with patients would be assessed and vaccinated against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, hepatitis B, influenza, measles, mumps, rubella and chicken pox if necessary.
“Changes to the policy include the addition of an adult vaccine against pertussis, better known as whooping cough,” Mr Hatzistergos said.
“The policy specifies that healthcare workers who choose not to be vaccinated will be moved to work in lower-risk clinical areas.
“In addition, all new staff and contract personnel must comply with the vaccination requirements of the policy,” he said.
The start of the immunisation campaign follows extensive consultation with key healthcare stakeholders and unions including the NSW Nurses Association, the Health Services Union, the Australian Medical Association (NSW), the Australian Salaried Medical Officers’ Federation (NSW) and the NSW regional office of the and Royal Australasian College of Surgeons.

For a range of health information, go online to www.health.nsw.gov.au