Safety, Health and Injury Management and Wellbeing

Immunisation guidelines

Our role is to develop and assist in the implementation of the UWA safety, health and wellbeing programs in order to minimise the risk of injury, illness and property damage.

We provide consultancy and other services to promote best practice and legislative compliance in all University and related activities.

The University of Western Australia is committed to providing employees, students, contractors and visitors with a safe and healthy environment for work and study. The University promotes continual assessment of the risk of exposure to infectious diseases, prompt identification of those who may be at risk and provision of relevant information, instruction, training and supervision. The University will provide, as appropriate, education and information on infection control for all persons who may carry out tasks or activities in areas where there are identified risks. This Guideline excludes Covid-19 which is covered by separate Government and University Directions.

Responsibilities

Heads of School / Centre / Business Unit (in their area of control)
Shall:

  • Ensure that all supervisory personnel, employees, students and others are aware of and act upon their responsibilities in accordance with these guidelines, associated University policies and legislative requirements.
  • Encourage non-immune persons to be vaccinated and shall advise those who decline of the health risks related to their work or course of study.
  • Ensure employees and students who decline vaccination sign an acknowledgement form. There are separate forms for employees (required) and students (for whom completing this form is optional).
  • Conduct risk assessments for persons who decline vaccination to determine if any alteration to their work or course of study is required to reduce the risk of infection.
  • Provide financial assistance for employees for an immunisation course and the blood test as required.
  • Maintain confidential records of immunisations at least at a School / Business Unit level and ensure that reminders are sent when required.

Supervisors (in their area of control and as relevant)
Shall:

  • Ensure that all persons under their supervision follow these guidelines, associated University policies and legislative requirements.
  • Ensure that appropriate information, instruction, training and supervision is provided to persons under their supervision.
  • Ensure that Principles of Standard Precaution in accordance with Australian Guidelines for the Prevention of Infection in Healthcare 2010 (NHMRC) and safe work instructions are adopted by themselves, and persons under their supervision.
  • Ensure that details of vaccinations and other documentation is provided to the School or Administrative Unit.
  • Ensure that appropriate information and medical intervention is provided as required prior to and in the event of an exposure.

Staff, students and others
Shall:

  • Comply with these guidelines, associated University and local procedures and work instructions.
  • Contact their supervisor or course coordinator for advice if unable or not willing to be vaccinated.
  • Advise their consulting doctor of any pre-existing medical conditions to ensure that they can be vaccinated safely.
  • Keep records of their vaccinations.
  • Provide their supervisor or course coordinator and School or Administrative Unit with evidence of immunisations.
  • Provide receipts for reimbursement where applicable.
  • Report to their supervisor, course coordinator and the University if exposed to an infectious agent (see Reporting incidents, injuries, illness, desease or near misses).
  • Not put at risk the health of others in the event of becoming aware of being a carrier of an infectious disease.

UWA's Safety and Health Unit and UWA's Biosafety Office (in their area of control)
Will:

  • Assist Heads of School or Business Units and Supervisors to implement these guidelines and for providing advice as required.

UWA's University Medical Centre (in Guild Village on Crawley Campus)
Will:

  • Provide relevant immunisation procedures and advice as required.

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General Guidelines

All employees, students and others at risk of exposure, or at risk of exposing others to infectious diseases, must be aware of their immune status.

Staff and students intending to travel overseas should seek medical advice at least six to eight weeks before departure.

Staff and students who may become exposed to infectious diseases are strongly advised to follow the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Immunisation Schedule (see below) https://www.health.gov.au/health-topics/immunisation/when-to-get-vaccinated/immunisation-for-work  Most immunisations are available from either the University Medical Centre on Crawley Campus or from many general practitioners. Specialist immunisations are available from the Department of Health, Western Australia and other providers (see section "How to arrange vaccinations" below).

Immunisation Schedule

Those who have direct contact with human blood and body tissue, which includes those engaged in dentistry, medical practitioners, health care students, laboratory staff, animal care staff, maintenance engineers who service equipment, sterilising service staff and those involved in decontamination and disposal of potentially contaminated materials.

  • Hepatitis B x 3 doses followed by serological confirmation of immunity
  • Influenza (annually)
  • DTPa (triple antigen vaccine for Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis (whooping cough) within last 10 years having completed primary course DTPa for tetanus component
  • MMR (combination vaccine for Measles, Mumps and Rubella) x 2 doses
  • Varicella (Chickenpox) x 2 doses
  • Consider vaccination for other potential infections including Hepatitis A and Tuberculosis

First aiders

  • Hepatitis B

Childcare workers

  • Hepatitis A
  • MMR (combination vaccine for Measles, Mumps and Rubella) x 2 doses
  • Pertussis (Whooping cough)
  • Varicella (Chickenpox)

Animal handlers / laboratory workers with animals

  • Tetanus
  • Rabies
  • Q Fever depending on duties
  • project specific e.g., Japanese Encephalitis, Dengue Fever.

Staff and students who handle bats (both flying foxes and microbats)

  • ABL (Australian Bat Lyssa virus) using rabies vaccine (recommendation: two-yearly antibody titres)

Plumbers

  • Hepatitis A (if exposed to raw sewage)

Grounds staff, cleaners, plumbers and security staff at risk of needlestick injury, blood or body fluids

  • Tetanus recommended if they sustain an open wound injury while at work

Laboratory personnel

  • Those who work with micro-organisms should seek advice which is specific for the bacteria, viruses or fungi that they may encounter.

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Vaccinations

General Practitioners
University Medical Centre on Crawley Campus.
Department of Health - https://ww2.health.wa.gov.au/Articles/A_E/Communicable-disease-control-guidelines
https://www.traveldoctor.com.au/locations/perth  

Where immunisation is necessary due to the risk of exposure or exposing others to infectious diseases, the cost of immunisation of employees shall be met by the School or Business Unit as long as the immunisation is undertaken.

The University recognises that employees, students and others have a right to:
Choose whether or not to be vaccinated.
Choose whether or not to disclose their immune status.
Neither employees, students nor others are required to disclose information relating to their health status except as required under the Western Australian Health Act 1911-1984.

Evidence of immunisation should be provided by the employee, student or other to the supervisor or course coordinator and to the relevant School or Business Unit.

The School or Business Unit is required to maintain confidential information on those employees, students and others who have had immunisations as part of their work or study and for providing reminders as required. It is recommended that a central file at a School or Business Unit level be maintained for employees, students and others.

Acknowledgement of Declined Vaccination forms should be completed and retained for those who decline to be immunised (see below).

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References

Government of Western Australia - Department of Health:
https://ww2.health.wa.gov.au/Articles/A_E/Communicable-disease-control-guidelines

Australian Government
The Australian Guidelines for the Prevention and Control of Infection in the Healthcare Setting
https://www.nhmrc.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/infection-control-guidelines-feb2020.pdf
Australian Immunisation Handbook
https://immunisationhandbook.health.gov.au/

University of Western Australia:
UWA Faculty of Dentistry and Medicine "Infection Control Policy"
https://www.meddent.uwa.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/2854981/Infection-Control-Policy-2015.pdf  

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