The Law 31/1995 on Occupational Risks Prevention forces companies to develop a protection of workers’ health through the prevention of risks derived from their work.
In order to do so, the professionals of Health Surveillance must inform and implement an appropriate vaccination programme among their workers, to ensure health protection with a perfect immunisation against all infectious diseases on the workplace.
Vaccinations are antigenic preparations obtained from microorganisms or other infectious agents, which induce an active acquired immunisation against infectious diseases, with a minimum risk of suffering local or general reactions.
Vaccination act
Concept: when a professional doctor/nurse of the company administers a vaccine to the worker in order to produce a specific immunity.
Prevention of the staff in risk of infection.
To properly identify the staff at risk of infection it is necessary to analyse the job that they develop.
Hepatitis B
For workers exposed to biological risks that are in contact with human fluid, such as:
- Human blood
- Constituent elements of blood (serum)
- Semen
- Cerebrospinal, synovial, pleural, pericardial, peritoneal and amniotic fluids.
- Saliva contaminated with blood.
- Body fluid.
- Workers that have to travel to endemic areas with medium-high prevalence of HBV.
For all this staff vaccination against hepatitis B is recommended.
Hepatitis A
- For workers exposed to sewage
- For workers who need to travel to areas where hepatitis A is endemic
- Food handlers
- Staff working in the field of research, handling HAV
- Laboratory staff in contact with faeces
For all this staff vaccination against hepatitis A is recommended.
Tetanus - diphtheria
Vaccination against tetanus – diphtheria is recommended for all workers.
Flu
The disease is more common during cold months in shut places, since the transmission of the virus is very high.
The entire population is subject to be infected with flu. Transmission always occurs by air because of the virus’ lability in the environment.
Vaccination will be available for everybody who wants to reduce voluntarily the risk of flu. The entire population is at risk of suffering of flu.
Vaccination for international travelling
When making an international trip, it is necessary to bear in mind that, in certain countries, there is an increased risk of infectious diseases. This risk depends on the country, area, duration, type of trip and the traveller’s characteristics as well as age, allergies…
There are specialised centres where there is updated information about the epidemiological situation of risk in each country, and they are the only ones authorised by WHO for the certification and administration of vaccines subject to international health regulations. These centres depend on the Servicios de Sanidad Exterior (services responsible for health controls at borders) (Muelle de la Aduana s / n. Puerto Autonómico de Valencia - 46071 - Valencia.)
