OCCUPATIONAL SCREENING AND VACCINATION AGAINST INFECTIOUS DISEASES RHW is committed to ensuring a safe environment for all staff

and patients. This commitment includes adopting the occupational screening and vaccination policy (circular 2003/91), that minimises the risk of health care consumers and providers of acquiring an infectious disease. Accordingly RHW will require all medical, allied health and nursing/ midwifery students are to show their Adult Vaccination Record Card with or attached to, documented evidence of: Evidence of immunity or vaccination can be provided by either: Positive serology Positive hepatitis B surface antibody following (hepatitis B surface or OR previous vaccinationa. core antibody). Positive serology for Documentation of receiving two doses of MMR. OR each virus. Past history of varicella Documentation of receiving two doses of OR or positive serology. varicella vaccine. Documentation of Mantoux test Documentation of receiving adult booster of pertussis vaccine.

Hepatitis B

Measles, mumps and rubella Varicella Tuberculosis Pertussis

a.

A small proportion of students will not develop positive serology after vaccination. These students would need to provide documentation of receiving the vaccine.

Tuberculosis screening must be conducted by your local Chest Clinic. Any student who refuse to participate in the screening and vaccination program, are to acknowledge in writing their non-participation and understanding of any risks consequences upon non-participation. All documents must be presented to the nominated representative of the department that is responsible for the student I.e.: Medical Students to Margaret Evans Infection Control CNC Allied Health Students to Social Work / Physiotherapy Nursing and midwifery students to Nursing and Midwifery Education. If a student is not able to provide this documentation, may be excluded from clinical placements and will have their clinical training program modified. The university will be notified that the student has failed to comply with this prerequisite. RHW will enforce this policy from January 1st 2005. As many infectious diseases result in increased morbidity and / or mortality for neonates and pregnant women, students are asked to NOT come into the hospital if they think they may be experiencing symptoms of an infectious disease (e.g., Pertussis, rubella, chicken pox). It is imperative that students in this position attend their General practitioner for diagnosis. It is the student's responsibility to inform the university of their reason for not attending the hospital clinical practicum in this situation. If students have active oral Herpes or Herpes Whitlow they will not be able to work with neonates or oncology patients. To be implemented January 1st 2005