IC0004 0000 0002 Workforce Assessment- Screening and Vaccination Requirements Toolkit
Status Active PolicyStat ID 19163184
Origination Sep 2021
Last Approved Nov 2025
Effective Nov 2025
Last Revised Nov 2025
Next Review Nov 2029
Owner Lucille Ridley: Manager Infection Control
Area S3-Preventing and Controlling Infection
Applicability St John of God Organisation
IC0004 0000 0002 Workforce Assessment, Screening and Vaccination Requirements Toolkit
Our Vision - We are recognised for care that provides healing, hope and a greater sense of dignity, especially to those most in need. Our Mission - To continue the healing mission of Jesus.
RELATED DOCUMENTS
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IC0004 Workforce Assessment, Screening and Vaccination Policy
IC0004 0001 Workforce Assessment, Screening and Vaccination Procedure
IC0004 0002 Workforce Assessment, Screening and Referral of Caregivers for Tuberculosis (TB) Toolkit
• Direct physical contact with patients/ clients, deceased persons or body parts
• Medical practitioners
• Nursing & Midwifery caregivers:
B
• Potential exposure to blood, body fluids, infectious material or surfaces (eg. soiled linen, surgical equipment, syringes)
◦ Registered, enrolled & assistants
• Patient Care/Service Assistants
• Allied Health - all roles
• Health Care Students - all roles
• Environmental Services
• Sterilising Department Roles
• Security
• Orderlies
• Contracted pathology
• Medical Imaging
• Engineering/ maintenance attending patient areas
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• International Health caregivers
• Residential care workers (excluding Accord)
Caregivers who:
• Have contact that would allow the transmission of diseases that are spread by respiratory means. this may include:
◦ Frequent/prolonged face to face contact with patients/ clients
◦ Attend clinical/ client facing areas on a regular basis
◦ Normal work location is in a clinical area but does not have direct physical contact
• Pharmacy
• Pastoral Care
• Admissions officers
• Community based counselors & support workers
• Food service attendants
• Patient facing menu monitors
• Ward clerks/ outpatient/reception
C
Caregivers who:
• Have no direct physical contact with patients/clients
• Have a normal work location that is not in a clinical area and do not attend clinical areas routinely
• Only attend clinical areas infrequently or for short periods of time on administrative duties & have contact with patients no different to visitors to a facility eg – in lifts or cafeteria
• Have a normal work location at a site where their patients and clients do not attend
Additional Information
Hepatitis A
• Patient facing volunteers
• Food services caregivers that only work in kitchen
• Cafeteria/Gift shop/ Concierge
• Administration volunteers
• Medical records
• Administration in non-clinical areas
• Group services
• Stores personnel based off site
• All Accord personnel
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International
Hepatitis A Vaccine is recommended for the following caregiver groups
• Caregivers working in rural & remote indigenous communities
• Plumbers/Maintenance caregivers that access raw sewerage
• Any caregiver normally located in Australia required to work or visit internationally for work must be be vaccinated as per their category or as prescribed by a medical professional experienced in travel vaccines.
Laboratory
Hepatitis B**
• May have additional vaccination requirements if they are working with, or may be exposed to, specific viral or bacterial organisms, e.g. anthrax, Q fever, anthrax, meningococcal C, poliomyelitis, Japanese encephalitis, typhoid, yellow fever
• Following a risk assessment, caregiver roles listed in CAT A can be excluded from hepatitis B immunity testing or vaccination following a site based risk assessment.
Influenza WA and NSW - all caregivers
• Recommended only
VIC - applies only to those based in Hospitals and Healthcare at Home
MRSA
Tuberculosis
• All existing and newly commencing Cat A & B caregivers are required to be vaccinated by 15 August 2022 and annually thereafter by August 15.
• If commencing employment between January and April annually, evidence of influenza will need to be provided within 4 months of commencement when flu vaccine programs commence. If commencing between August 16 and 31 December, evidence of vaccination for that calendar year must be provided upon commencement.
• Routine pre-employment screening is not required and screening for other purposes please see Screening and Management of MRSA in Caregivers
• All Category A caregivers must have a baseline result
◦ Community based roles where the risk of exposure is not different to that within the community can have be excluded following a site based risk assessment.
◦ Sterilising Department can be excluded following a site based risk assessment
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COVID-19
• Category B caregivers in WA identified as high risk on assessment must be screened for TB. This assessment includes:
◦ Having being born in a country with high incidence of TB or a resident of same for > 3 months
◦ Past history of contact with TB (work or personal)
All caregivers
• COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for all caregivers, particularly those caring for COVID-19 patients/clients.
• Note: for most people, a primary vaccination course consists of 2 doses unless they have received an approved 1 dose vaccine.
Mandatory Requirements by Category
Screening and Vaccination Requirements by Risk Category
Mandatory for high risk - see note above Not required
Role specificsee note Not required Not required
Recommended Recommended Recommended
Acceptable Evidence Requirements
Diseases Vaccination/ Screening/Serology Evidence
Diphtheria, Tetanus & Pertussis (dTpa)
1 adult dose of dTpa vaccine within last 10 years.
Serology not accepted.
Brand names of commonly used in Australia
Adacel
Adacel polio
Boostrix
Boostrix-IPV
Comments
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Hepatitis A 2 vaccines with a minimum interval of 6 months between doses
NB: Serological testing before hepatitis A immunity may be helpful for certain groups of people to avoid unnecessary vaccination in individuals with natural immunity:
• People born before 1950
• People who spent their early childhood in hepatitis A endemic areas
• People with an unexplained episode
Avaxim
Havrix
Combination
Hepatitis A/B vaccines
Twinrix
Vivaxim
dTpa booster is required 10 yearly
ADT is not acceptable
Serology is not recommended before or after vaccination.
Caregivers at risk of Hepatitis
B - a combination Hepatitis A/ B vaccine can be used however the course is required as per a Hepatitis B course (in accordance with the Australian Immunisation Handbook)
Hepatitis B
of hepatitis, including hepatitis B
The above people may need to be tested for total hepatitis A antibodies or IgG antibodies against hepatitis A virus. A positive test indicate immunity to hepatitis A.
Documented history of ageappropriate hepatitis B vaccination course in accordance with the Australian Immunisation Handbook AND/OR
Anti-HBs ≥10mIU/mL taken greater than four weeks post vaccination OR
Energix-B & H-VVax II (paediatric & adult formulation)
Combination
Hepatitis A/B vaccines
Twinrix
Serological evidence of immunity to Hepatitis B is required.
For management of nonresponders consult the Australian Immunisation Handbook
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Documented evidence of antiHBc, indicating past Hepatitis B infection and/or HBsAg+. Infant schedules: 3 doses, Day 0, 4 weeks and 6 months Adolescent (11-15 years of age): 2 doses of adult vaccine 4-6 months apart.
Adult schedules: 3 dose schedule Day 0, 2nd dose 1-2 months after first dose, 3rd dose 4-6 months after first dose.
Measles, Mumps & Rubella (MMR)
1 dose on commencement with commitment to complete OR
2 doses of MMR vaccine at least 4 weeks apart after 12 months of age.
OR
Positive IgG for measles, mumps and rubella (rubella immunity is provided as a numerical value with immunity
MMR II
Priorix
Combination including varicella (not for use in persons >14 yrs of age)
Priorix-tetra ProQuad
Caregivers that have HBsAg+ and who perform exposure prone procedures must have further assessment and clearance to continue as per BBV screening procedure.
Serology is not recommended following 2 dose MMR course or for those born before 1966.
Varicella (chicken pox)
status as per laboratory report)
OR
Birth date before 1966
1 dose on commencement with commitment to complete OR
2 doses of varicella vaccine at least 4 weeks apart OR
Positive IgG for Varicella OR
Evidence of Zoster vaccine in persons vaccinated aged 50 years and over is acceptable
• Zostavax is a single dose
• Shingrix is a 2 dose course
Influenza (flu)
One dose of the current current southern hemisphere influenza vaccine
Serology not accepted
Varilriix
Varivax Combination (including MMR)
• Priorixtetra
• Pro-Quad Zoster vaccines
• Zostavax
• Shingrix
Serology is not recommended following vaccination
Zoster vaccine is not indicated for primary vaccination against varicella-zoster virus
Healthcare workers are recommended to receive 2 doses as per the Australian Immunisation Handbook
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• Fluarix Tetra
• FluQuadri
• Vaxigrip Tetra
• Influvac Tetra
• Afluria
Quad
• Fluad Quad
• Flucelvax Quad
• Fluzone
HighDose Quad
VIC: Required annually by 15 August
Tuberculosis (TB) Completed TB assessment form AND
Baseline evidence of one of BCG (bacille Calmette-Guerin)
Screening completed for immigration purposes is acceptable and does not need to be repeated.
the following screening tests:
• The Interferon gamma release assay (IGRA i.e. Quantiferon gold),
• OR
• Tuberculin Skin Test (i.e. Mantoux)
If exposure has occurred since the previous baseline and no testing completed, a new screening test must be done. All positive results must have evidence of clearance to work.
All records published on MyPolicy Library are considered current and active regardless of the review date. Printed or personally saved electronic copies of the record are considered uncontrolled.
Accord, Ballarat Hospital, Bendigo Hospital, Berwick Hospital, Bunbury Hospital, Frankston Hospital, Geelong Hospital, Geraldton Hospital, Group Services, Healthcare at Home, Langmore Centre, Marillac, Midland Private Hospital, Midland Public Hospital, Midland Public and Private Hospitals, Mt Lawley
Hospital, Murdoch Hospital, Orthonova Orthopaedic Hospital, SJG Foundation, SJG NSW Mental Health, Social Outreach (Australia and Timor-Leste), St John of God Administration, Subiaco Hospital, Warrnambool Hospital
