Medical Center Occupational Health Basics-Handout: Now More than Ever- Vaccine-Preventable Disease Management in MCOH

Handout: Now More than Ever- Vaccine-Preventable Disease Management in MCOH

Pdf Summary

The document "Now More Than Ever: Vaccine-Preventable Disease Management in MCOH" by Dr. Amy J. Behrman emphasizes the crucial role of managing vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) in healthcare settings, particularly with healthcare personnel (HCP). The presentation highlights best practices, strategies, and recent trends for handling various vaccine-preventable illnesses such as measles, mumps, rubella, varicella, pertussis, diphtheria, meningococcal disease, hepatitis A, and COVID-19.<br /><br />Central to the document is the importance of ensuring immunity among healthcare workers as a primary means of risk reduction. Onboarding processes are seen as pivotal opportunities to document immunization histories and address any gaps. The challenges faced in off-site and non-traditional vaccination sites, such as vaccine transport and documentation, are discussed, alongside the risks of unsafe environments and temperature excursions.<br /><br />Special attention is given to diseases like measles and mumps, underscoring their high contagion potential and implications for healthcare environments. The document also emphasizes the necessity of assessing staff immunity, offering post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), and managing healthcare personnel with exposure or communicable diseases through isolation or furlough when necessary.<br /><br />Furthermore, guidance from authoritative bodies like the CDC and ACIP is highlighted, noting that recommendations change over time, influencing practices across various institutions and jurisdictions. The importance of maintaining updated guidelines, ensuring vaccine availability, and supporting immunization through community and employer initiatives is stressed.<br /><br />Finally, the challenges of vaccine hesitancy and misinformation among healthcare workers are acknowledged, with a call for healthcare personnel to be effective vaccination advocates to protect themselves and their patients. The document concludes with a reminder of the historical significance and ongoing relevance of vaccination as a public health measure.

Keywords

vaccine-preventable diseases

healthcare personnel

immunity

onboarding processes

measles and mumps

CDC guidelines

vaccine hesitancy

public health

immunization histories

COVID-19