Healthcare workers have higher exposure to several vaccine-preventable diseases, both through patient contact and through the people they live and travel with. Vaccinating staff protects them, their families, and the patients they care for, particularly the immunocompromised. Most Victorian public-health services now require documented immunity for several diseases as a condition of employment.
The recommended core list
- Hepatitis B, three-dose course plus post-vaccination serology to confirm immunity. Critical for any role with potential blood or bodily-fluid exposure.
- Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), two documented doses or serology confirming immunity. Outbreaks in healthcare settings are a real and recurring problem.
- Varicella (chickenpox), two doses or evidence of immunity (history of infection, serology, or two-dose vaccine).
- Diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (dTpa), booster within the last 10 years.
- Influenza, annually. Mandatory in most aged-care and public-hospital settings.
- COVID-19, current ATAGI advice for healthcare workers.
Role-specific additions
- Anaesthetics, surgical, ICU, ED, hepatitis A is sometimes added for higher-risk exposures.
- Laboratory workers, additional vaccinations based on specific pathogens handled (Q fever, rabies, JE, etc.).
- Workers in remote or Aboriginal community-controlled health services, hepatitis A, additional pneumococcal considerations.
Serology, what it is and when it’s needed
For hepatitis B, MMR and varicella, a blood test (serology) can confirm whether you’re already immune, useful if you don’t have records of prior doses, or if you had the diseases as a child without documentation. Many employers accept positive serology in place of vaccination records.
Documenting your status
Pull your AIR Immunisation History Statement from myGov. For doses given before AIR existed (1996 for children, 2016 for adults), provide whatever paper records you have plus any serology. We can update AIR with overseas vaccinations on presentation of evidence (translated where needed).
Where to be vaccinated
Many hospitals and large employers run on-site clinics for staff. If you’re a contractor, locum, agency staff, or work in a small practice, our walk-in clinic delivers the full healthcare-worker bundle plus serology referrals through your GP. For an annual flu program for a whole organisation, see our workplace flu program planning guide.
Sources & further reading
General information only. This article is educational and is not a substitute for personal medical advice. Your immuniser will confirm eligibility and contraindications on the day.
TGA advertising compliance. Vaccines are referred to by disease or category in line with the Therapeutic Goods Advertising Code. Specific brands and registered indications are discussed at the consultation.