Vaccinations and testing for health-care workers
Health-care workers are at risk of exposure to communicable diseases because of their contact with patients, clients, residents or their environment. There is also a risk that a health-care worker could transmit an undiagnosed vaccine-preventable disease to others.
For their protection and that of others, employees are responsible to ensure that their vaccinations are up-to-date.
At times, Occupational Health may contact an employee to remind them of missing vaccinations, or when screening is needed. This would normally occur for newly hired employees, when an occupational health file is reviewed during an outbreak or exposure, or if an employee requests a review of their records.
If Occupational Health needs to notify employees of outstanding vaccinations and/or testing, an notification will be sent to their @easternhealth.ca e-mail address from occhealth@easternhealth.ca. Occupational health will no longer mail notifications to employee’s home addresses.
Employees should ensure that they are checking their @easternhealth.ca e-mail address on a regular basis, as there will not be any other form of notification.
Vaccine recommendations for health-care workers
Some of the most common vaccinations recommended for health-care workers are listed below. Please click on each vaccine to read additional information.
- Hepatitis B
- Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR)
- Tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (Tdap)
- Tdap vaccination during pregnancy – please contact Public Health at 1-844-218-7291 or email onlineprenatal@easternhealth.ca
- Varicella (chicken pox)
- Influenza
Testing recommendations for health-care workers
- Tuberculosis (TB) testing:
- Documented baseline 2-step Tuberculin Skin Test (TST) with one TST no longer than 12 months prior to the date of hire (second step administered between 1-4 weeks up to one year after the first.)
- Annual TB testing:
- Some of our work areas/sites have a higher risk of exposure to tuberculosis based on the nature of the work they do (eg. Public Health Lab, bronchoscopy staff). Occupational health provides annual TB testing/screening in these areas.
- Hearing Testing:
- Some of our work areas/sites have an increased exposure to noise based on the the type of work they do and the equipment used. Find out more about Eastern Health’s Hearing Conservation Program (PDF).
- Respirator Fit Testing
- Some of our work areas/tasks involve working with airborne contaminants such as tuberculosis, measles, chicken pox, etc. Employees must use appropriate personal protective equipment prior to entering the room of any patient, client or resident with an airborne disease. Please click the link for training and education information on fit testing (login required.)
Where can I get a copy of my vaccinations?
Childhood vaccination records
Staff who grew up in Newfoundland and Labrador can contact the regional health authority of your current residence. Click here for contact information. Staff who grew up in other jurisdictions or countries would need to secure these records from these outside sources.
Adult vaccination records
Employees who are looking for records of any vaccinations or testing that they have had since grade school, would need to contact the office/doctor/clinic where they had the vaccination or testing completed as these records are not all linked together.
Employees that have any questions regarding their vaccination(s), or would like their records reviewed, please call 709-777-7777, pathway 3, then 2 or e-mail occhealth@easternhealth.ca.