Hepatitis B Immunisation Guidelines
In line with both Queensland Health and Tertiary Education Provider policies, health professional students must be immunised against hepatitis B prior to their first clinical placement in Queensland Health facilities.
Students will be required to provide proof of hepatitis B vaccination to their Tertiary Education Provider on enrolment or prior to undertaking their first placement. Proof of vaccination can be provided by:
(i) a blood test that shows the required level of immunity (i.e. anti HBs >10 IU/L), OR
(ii) a letter from a general practitioner, infection control or occupational health department.
See the Queensland Health Infection Control Guidelines for more details.
Non Responders
Students who are deemed a non-responder (i.e. a person with an anti HBs <10 IU/L after an initial course of HBV immunisation) should be referred to their General Practitioner for alternative treatment.
See the Queensland Health Infection Control Guidelines for more details.
Occupational Exposure
Although adherence to infection control practices, including Standard Precautions remains the first line of protection for health care workers against occupational exposure to blood borne viruses, all staff (including students) should be aware of who to contact for advice concerning the management of an occupational exposure (e.g. needlestick injury, body fluid exposure).
See the Queensland Health Infection Control Guidelines for more details.
Health Care Workers with Hep B, Hep C or HIV
The Queensland Health Policy “Management of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Hepatitis B Virus, and Hepatitis C Virus Infected Healthcare Workers” outlines responsibilities for serological testing for HIV, HBV and HCV and responsibilities of HIV/HBV/HCV infected health care workers (including students) who are about to commence performing ‘exposure prone procedures’.
See the Queensland Health Infection Control Guidelines for more details.
Other recommended vaccinations
On the basis of documented transmission in health care facilities, health care workers (including students) are considered to be at significant risk for acquiring or transmitting hepatitis B, influenza, measles, mumps, pertussis, and varicella (chickenpox). All of these diseases are vaccine preventable. Whilst hepatitis B vaccination is mandatory, screening and if necessary vaccination, against the following diseases is strongly recommended:
Students should undergo a baseline health evaluation with their general practitioner prior to clinical placement to discuss immunisation and receive any required vaccinations. A vaccination record should be kept.
For further information on infection control and employee health refer to the Queensland Health Infection Control Guidelines or the Staff Protect website on the Queensland Health Intranet (*staff only access).
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