[NEW RESOURCE] WHO Implementation Guide for Vaccination of Health Workers

Health workers are at an increased risk of exposure to some communicable diseases because of their contact with patients or infective material in their working environment. There is also a risk that infected health workers could contribute to nosocomial transmission of disease to vulnerable patients at higher risk for severe illness, complications and death. Protection of health workers through vaccination is therefore an important part of infection prevention and control (IPC) programmes in health-care settings, as well as a cornerstone of occupational health and safety (OHS) programmes.

The World Health Organization has issued specific recommendations for vaccines of particular importance to health workers, against vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) for which there is a higher risk of transmission within health-care settings. These recommendations include vaccines that are part of the routine immunization schedule that all health workers should receive ideally prior to entering the workforce, as well as annual vaccinations and, in some circumstances, emergency or outbreak response vaccination. Programmatic implications for vaccine delivery to
health workers will differ across each of these vaccine categories.

This implementation guidance is intended to summarize current global recommendations and programmatic considerations for establishing and/or strengthening platforms for the vaccination of health workers. It is intended for policy decision-makers in ministries of health (MOHs) and ministries of employment and labour, immunization managers and managers of health facilities, professional associations of various groups of health workers, and organizations of workers and employers in the health sector.

This guide will be useful for countries that do not yet have a policy and programme in place, as well as for those seeking to expand or improve their existing health worker vaccination activities.

Access the guide here (or see attachment): www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240052154.