August is National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM), an annual event sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to highlight the importance of immunizations. Although the focus has been on COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters for the past several years, it’s important not to forget other vaccinations. As part of NIAM, the CDC is promoting staying on track with other important vaccines including those for the flu, hepatitis B, and tetanus.
Influenza Vaccinations
According to the CDC, everyone 6 months and older should receive a yearly flu vaccine. With the flu season fast approaching, this is a good time to plan for flu vaccinations for your employees. To encourage employees to get vaccinated, employers frequently offer onsite seasonal flu vaccination clinics using their occupational health provider. These are typically held from mid-September through December. Occupational health centers have already started reaching out about scheduling flu clinics!
Based on CDC data, the flu vaccine prevents millions of illnesses and flu-related doctor’s visits each year. During 2019-2020, the last flu season prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, flu vaccination prevented an estimated 7.5 million influenza illnesses, 3.7 million influenza-associated medical visits, 100,000 influenza-associated hospitalizations, and 7,000 influenza-associated deaths.
Seasonal flu has the potential to have a significant financial impact in the workplace. The CDC Foundation estimates that the flu is responsible for the loss of close to 17 million workdays each flu season. Flu-related costs in the US have been reported to be more than $87 billion annually. Offering flu vaccines in the workplace can be an effective way to limit absenteeism and promote employee health.
Hepatitis B Vaccinations
Hepatitis B vaccinations can prevent hepatitis B, a liver disease that can lead to a serious lifelong illness. The CDC recommends that infants get their first dose at birth and complete the series usually within 6-18 months of age. In addition, anyone 59 years of age or younger who has not received the vaccine should be vaccinated. For adults 60 years or older who have not previously received the vaccine, vaccination is recommended for those at an increased risk of exposure to hepatitis B and may be administered to those that are not.
The OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard requires that employers make the hepatitis B vaccination available to employees within 10 working days of initial assignment to duties that result in the potential for occupational exposure to human blood and other potentially infectious material.
For employees who elect to participate in the program, the vaccine is a series of three doses often followed by an immunity (titer) test. Employees who choose not to participate in the vaccination must sign a declination form. Companies often use the form not only to document declination, but also to record consent to participate in the vaccination series, or to elect to have a titer to confirm immunity.
It’s important to note that the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard has other specific record-keeping requirements related to hepatitis B vaccinations, including maintaining an accurate copy of each employee’s hepatitis B vaccination status and the dates of all hepatitis B shots.
Tetanus Vaccinations
Tetanus can cause painful stiffening of the muscles, often causing lockjaw and leading to more serious health problems including difficulty swallowing and breathing. The CDC recommends that adults get a tetanus shot every 10 years, or after 5 years in the event of a severe or potentially dirty wound or burn. This is particularly important for employees who work in animal care facilities (ACFs). The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals stresses the importance of immunizing animal care personnel against tetanus. In some cases, a tetanus booster may be recommended after an animal bite depending on the species of animal, even for ACF staff current on their tetanus immunization series.
There are three types of vaccines used to protect against tetanus, all of which also protect against other diseases. They are diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTaP); tetanus and diphtheria (Td); and tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap). Infants and children younger than 7 years of age should receive DTaP, while it’s recommended that older children and adults get Tdap or Td.
For more information on National Immunization Awareness Month, or for assistance with implementing your company’s vaccination programs, and ensuring that they are compliant, please contact us.
This blog was written by Beth Graham, Director of Quality, Research, and Training
