VIRAL HEPATITIS B IMMUNIZATION OF CATEGORY 1 -
HIGH RISK EMPLOYEES
POLICY STATEMENT:
The Division of Veterans Healthcare Services requires each of the New
Jersey Veterans Memorial Homes to establish an immunization
program against Viral Hepatitis B for high-risk employees.
PURPOSE:
This policy and procedure serves to protect direct
care staff and high-risk employees against Hepatitis B infection. Direct
service staff and high-risk
employees include, but are not limited to, physicians, nurses,
nurses’ aides, food service and housekeeping staff, emergency medical
technicians,
dental personnel, speech, physical and occupational therapy
personnel, and others who might have had direct contact with blood and
body fluids
or tissue of actively infected or Hepatitis B carrier residents.
DEFINITION:
VIRAL HEPATITIS B - is generally defined as an inflammatory disease of
the liver. Hepatitis B virus is found in the blood, blood products, and
to a lesser degree in other body secretions. The presence of the virus
is temporary in most cases, and antibodies develop which prevent infection.
Some persons may become long term or chronic carriers of the virus, exhibiting
no symptoms of hepatitis. A person is considered a carrier if the surface
antigen is found in the bloodstream twice at six month intervals. The major
mode of transmission is through blood-to-blood contact; the blood from
a carrier/a person with Hepatitis B enters a susceptible person's bloodstream
through a break in the skin or is absorbed through mucus membranes. There
is less risk of transmission through contact with other body secretions
such as saliva and semen.
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE - reasonably anticipated skin, eye, mucous membrane, or parenteral contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials, that may result from the employee’s duties.
EXPOSURE DETERMINATION - employees identified as Category 1 High Risk Employees are employees who touch potentially infections material, i.e., blood, body fluids, tissues, or organs at least once a month.
PROCEDURE:
A. New Jersey Veterans Memorial Homes
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1. The New Jersey Veterans Memorial Homes shall establish/implement an immunization program against Viral Hepatitis B for high-risk employees, which shall incorporate at least the following: |
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a. Hepatitis B immunization screening offered on a voluntary basis to all Category 1 and other high-risk employees. |
| b. Advise employees to consult their personal physician to determine if the vaccine is contraindicated. | |
| c. Inform employees of the benefits and the possible side effects of the vaccine, and document whether the employee elects or declines screening and/or vaccination. | |
| d. A written, informed consent will be obtained prior to testing and/or vaccination. |
Revised: July 2005
Medical Services - 23-02-007