Who will be immunised?
All staff that may be potentially exposed to human blood and body fluids should be immunised against Hepatitis B. This includes all of the following:
- Doctors
- Nurses
- Healthcare and Maternity Care Assistants
- Midwives
- Physiotherapists
- Physician’s Assistants
- Lab workers exposed to human tissues and samples
- Radiographers
- Radiotherapists
- Audiologists
- Dieticians
- Technicians working with potentially contaminated medical equipment
- Domestic Assistants (cleaners)
- Facility and Estate workers dealing with clinical waste
- Any other healthcare or clinical staff deemed at risk of exposure
What does this involve?
Eligible staff will receive either a normal primary course of 3 injections, followed by a blood test to check their response to the immunisation and a booster after 5 years (if indicated) ; or a rapid course (EPP workers) of three vaccines, followed by a blood test and a booster after 12 months.
Note: It is important that a blood test is performed 6-8 weeks after the third vaccine of the course. This is the only way to ensure that you are protected against the Hepatitis B virus.
Staff working on hospital sites but not employed by the NHS need to discuss with their manager what provision is made for their Hepatitis B immunisation. If there are any queries, employees need to contact their Occupational Health.