Immunisation in early childhood education and care services - how to manage the risks of disease

Staff can be exposed to vaccine-preventable diseases through contact with with infectious children and their blood and body substances. Diseases such as measles, chickenpox or whooping cough.

Immunisation is a reliable way to prevent these diseases, and helps to protect staff, their families and the children they care for.

WorkSafe QLD recommends the below vaccinations for non-immune staff:

• Hepatitis A

• Measles-mumps-rubella (MMR)

• Chickenpox (if not previously infected)

• Pertussis (whooping cough) (an adult booster dose)

• Influenza (annual vaccination)

Studies show that preventing illness through a comprehensive immunisation program is more cost effective than the costs with managing exposures, outbreaks and staff absences.

Due to this not being compulsory, some staff will refuse a vaccination. Or there may be educators who cannot be vaccinated due to medical reasons.

Some tips on managing this at your service:

• Ensure that your service keeps an immunisation record register for staff, and it is kept up to date.

• Have a strong immunisation policy in place

• Provide information to staff about vaccine-preventable diseases

• Take all reasonable steps to encourage non-immune staff to be vaccinated

• Ensure to complete risk assessments for staff who are not vaccinated

Please visit https://www.worksafe.qld.gov.au/safety-and-prevention/hazards/workplace-hazards/child-care/immunisation-in-early-childhood-education-and-care-services for information on how a service can manage the risks