Immunisations

Hep B Vaccinations

It is the policy of NHSBT is to ensure that colleagues are adequately protected against:

• Hepatitis B (Hep B).
• Tuberculosis (TB) if applicable.
• Other relevant transmissible infections.

As such NHSBT strongly advise that all colleagues, except individuals working only on triage, receive the Hep B vaccination.

Hep B vaccinations for colleagues within Blood Donation are undertaken by a qualified vaccinator within NHSBT. The same applies for the follow-up blood sampling.

NHS Professionals (NHSP) Position:

NHSP have asked that all their workers (if not had the immunisation) are provided with Hep B vaccinations locally at our donor centres.

This is particularly important in relation to progressing any NHSP workers onto Venepuncture (VP) training. No NHSP workers can commence VP training without receiving their first Hep B vaccination.

NHSP will provide details of who needs to be vaccinated to NHSBT Immunisation Programme and hold all records after vaccination.

The process for progressing NHSP staff to Hep B is as follows:

Donor Centre Managers to provide a list of individuals who are progressing to VP training (as these will be priority). The list is sent to NHSBT Immunisation Programme at  ‘Immunisation Programme’

As per current NHSBT Immunisation Programme process.

The Immunisation Programme will:

• arrange vaccinations,
• sending all vaccines, consumables and paperwork to vaccination nurses.
• liaise with the on-site vaccinator nurse to confirm who will be vaccinated and when.

Vaccinator Nurse and person vaccinated complete consent form at time of vaccination.  This will need to be scanned back to Immunisation Programme.

NHSBT Immunisation Programme will manage follow-up vaccinations along the 3 vaccine/6month programme

Important - Only when it is confirmed by the vaccinating nurse that the worker has had their first vaccination can the Donor Centre manager start the worker on the venepuncture training

For Staff Returning to NHSBT Position:

NHSBT will still hold any immunisation records therefore the process for progressing to vaccination if required is the same as above.

Other Resource Providers Position:

For other Convalescent Plasma staff we will also offer Hep B vaccinations, particularly where the individual wants to progress to VP training.

It is unlikely that these staff have been vaccinated as part of their substantive role unless indicated by the individual.  We are exploring with these providers what evidence can be shown of previous vaccinations and will update on the process shortly. Until the process is resolved these staff cannot progress to vaccination.

Sanctuary workers are all subject to occupational health checks which include Hep B, Mumps, Measles and Rubella (MMR), Varicella and TB as standard.