Biosafety
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH
It is important that when a staff refuses certain vaccination/immunization, it is documented and the record is kept. In case this person say contracts the disease(TB if he/she works in the TB lab), is the laboratory responsible for any compensation? How do we go about such incidences?
Comments
Hi @Juan Moureen Duku Sworo ,
In as much as the laboratory has policies guiding vaccinations and immunizations, I think staff should willingly agree to take up any immunizations. So, since immunizations records are kept, similarly records of refusal to receive vaccination should be kept.
Additionally, since the staff refused immunization, I do not think the laboratory should not be responsible incase the staff is infected.
Also, refusal to receive immunization should be handled as a disciplinary case and all staff should comply with the laboratory policies.
Maybe the waiver that shall be signed by the staff who refuses to get vaccinations should include that: The laboratory will not be responsible for any vaccine preventable diseases that will be acquired by that staff during tour of duty.
Good point @Robert Reyes
Just to add to the great answers given above, part of the risk assessment conducted by the laboratory is considering the job description of each individual. Those who refuse vaccination for any reason should be prevented from being exposed to the corresponding pathogens through various means (area reassignment, additional engineering controls, additional PPE, etc.). I believe it is important to accommodate these workers as much as possible, since valid reasons for vaccine refusal do exist, and in many cases alternative working conditions can still be provided. Proper biorisk management is the key.
I agree with @Vladimir Sianghio that there may be genuine reasons for declining certain vaccinations. In our laboratory, such staff are required to document the reason for refusal and this is filed for reference. The said staff will be assigned tasks in areas of less exposure to pathogens. eg. not allowed to work in TB diagnostic department. In the event that they acquire infection in line of duty, the OSH team will evaluate the case and make a determination on the compensation.