To protect our employees and patients, all Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) faculty/staff should be evaluated to determine susceptibility to infectious diseases.

Travel vaccinations are available for Vanderbilt faculty and staff traveling on Vanderbilt business. A signed Travel Authorization Form must be provided before vaccinations are administered.

Immunization and/or titers are offered for the following:

• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B
• Influenza (Flu)
• Measles (Rubeola)
• Meningococcal
• Rubella
• Rabies
• Smallpox
• Varicella (chicken pox)
• Tetanus/Diphtheria
• Travel Related Vaccines

Learn more about vaccines and current recommendations.

How can I get a copy of my immunization record?
To obtain a copy of your immunization record, please call (615) 936-0955. Allow 24 to 48 hours for your records to be processed. Records can be picked up in our office or mailed out to you. If you would like your records faxed please fax a signed release to (615) 936-0966

Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A is a viral infection of the liver. Hepatitis A is transmitted primarily by person-to-person contact, generally through fecal contamination and oral ingestion. Transmission is facilitated by poor personal hygiene, poor sanitation, and intimate contact.

• Who should get the vaccine? Persons encouraged to get the vaccine are those with an occupational risk of infection; such as day care personnel, sewage workers, military personnel, and those who work with infected primates or those who work with hepatitis A in a research setting. Others include: persons with chronic liver disease, international travelers to areas of high or intermediate risk of transmission, children living in communities with high rates of hepatitis A, sexually active homosexual and bisexual men, and IV drug users.
• How can I get the vaccine? You must schedule an appointment with the Occupational Health Clinic (OHC) to discuss your need for the vaccine. If your need is determined to be related to your job, the OHC will administer the vaccine free of charge. However, if your need is determined to be personal, you would be charged for the vaccine.

• How is it transmitted? Hepatitis B can be transmitted to health care workers by exposure to blood or body fluids from hepatitis B infected patients. The risk of contracting hepatitis B from a needlestick with a hepatitis B contaminated needle is 35-40%. The risk from a splash to the eyes is much less. There is no cure for hepatitis B, but the vaccine can effectively prevent hepatitis B if you are exposed to the virus.
• Who should take the vaccine? Anyone who is at risk for contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials is strongly encouraged to receive the hepatitis B vaccine series.
  PLEASE NOTE: The US Public Health Service recommends the hepatitis B vaccine series to all health care workers.
• How much does it cost? The hepatitis B vaccine is offered free of charge to all faculty/staff who, while performing their job, could come in contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials.
• How is it administered? It is given as a series of three intramuscular injections: initial, one month later and six months later. OHC uses recombiant, noninfectious hepatitis B vaccine.
• What if I don't want to take the vaccine? Anyone at risk for exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials who does not wish to take the hepatitis B vaccine must sign a refusal statement. However, if you later decide that you want the hepatitis B vaccine, OHC will provide you the vaccine at that time at no charge. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires that all persons who, while performing their job, could possibly come in contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials be offered the hepatitis B vaccine series. See http://www.osha.gov.

Influenza (Flu)
Influenza or flu is a viral infection of the nose, throat, bronchial tubes, and lungs that can make someone of any age ill.

• When do you get the flu? The flu season in the United States is generally from about November through April.
• What are the symptoms of the flu? You usually have fever, chills, cough, and soreness and aching in your back, arms, and legs.
• How long does the flu last? Although most people are ill for only a few days, some people have a much more serious illness that could even result in a hospital visit. On average, thousands of people die each year in the United Stated from the flu or related complications.
• Who should get a flu shot? Any one wishing to reduce their chances of catching the flu should get the vaccine. Doctors, nurses, and others in both hospital and outpatient-care settings who have contact with high-risk patients in all age groups, including children are strongly encouraged to receive the immunization.
• Who should NOT get a flu shot? Any one with an allergy to eggs that causes dangerous reactions and anyone who has ever been paralyzed with Guillain Barre syndrome should NOT get the vaccine. Persons who are ill and have fever should wait to take the shot until the fever or others symptoms are gone.
• How often do I need a flu shot? Because the viruses that cause flu frequently change and because any immunity developed in the previous year possibly decreases, it is recommended that you receive the vaccination every year.
• Who is eligible for the shot and how much does it cost? The flu shot is given free of charge to all Vanderbilt faculty/staff and volunteers.
• Can I get the flu from getting the shot? Since all viruses in the vaccine are killed, the vaccine cannot infect anyone.
• How long does it take to start working? The vaccine will begin to provide protection about one to two weeks after you receive the vaccine and immunity may decrease, on average, after several months.
• Can I still get the flu after taking the shot? Flu shots will not protect everyone from the flu. The flu shot also cannot protect you against other illnesses that resemble the flu.
• When does OHC give the flu shots? Flu shots are given by the OHC from October 1 through December 31 of each year.
• Is the flu is just like a bad cold? No. Influenza (flu) is far more dangerous than a bad cold. It's a disease of the lungs, and it can lead to pneumonia. Each year about 114,000 people in the U.S. are hospitalized and about 20,000 people die because of the flu. Most who die are over 65 years old. But small children less than 2 years old are as likely as those over 65 to have to go to the hospital because of the flu.
• Are there side effects from the flu shot? Very few! The worst side effect you're likely to get is a sore arm. The risk of a rare allergic reaction is far less than the risk of severe complications from influenza. Flu shots do not cause cold symptoms.
• Can I take the flu shot if I'm pregnant or breastfeeding? Yes! Flu shots are recommended for pregnant women, especially those in their second and third trimesters because of the risk of influenza, which could complicate pregnancy. The vaccine is not a live virus so you cannot transmit flu to your baby through breastfeeding.

Meningococcal
Meningococcal disease is a serious disease caused by a bacteria. Bacterial Meningitis is an infection of the brain and spinal cord.

• How can it be prevented?
  A meningococcal vaccine can prevent some types of the disease but not all types.
• Who should get the vaccine?
  While the vaccine is not routinely recommended for most people, it should be considered for laboratory workers who are routinely exposed to the meningococal bacteria.

Contact the Occupational Health Clinic to determine if you have an occupational risk of exposure.

Rubella
Rubella is a highly contagious viral illness with symptoms very similar to rubeola but differs in the severity of symptoms and length of illness. The most serious threat of rubella is to the pregnant female who has never had rubella. If exposed to rubella, they can contract the disease which can cause serious problems for the unborn baby.

• How do I know if I'm immune? You are considered immune if you have had a rubella vaccine. If your birth date is before January 1, 1957, you will be required to have a rubella antibody screen. This is a blood test to determine if you are immune.
• What if I'm not immune? If through the blood test you are found to be non-immune, meaning you do not have immunity to rubella, the MMR vaccine will be offered to you at no cost.
• What if I was born after January 1, 1957? For those born on or after this date, the section on Measles applies to you.

• How do you get it? The most common way a person is exposed to rabies is through bites by rabid animals.
• What is the Rabies vaccine? The rabies vaccine is an inactivated-virus vaccine, available in both human diploid cell vaccine and rabies vaccine absorbed. Human rabies immune globulin is used in postexposure treatment of persons not previously immunized with rabies vaccine.
• Who needs the vaccine? All persons exposed to rabies virus, regardless of prior immunization should get the vaccine. Persons whose occupations or activities place them at increased risk of exposure include laboratory workers, forest rangers, taxidermists, veterinarians, stock breeders, hunters, and spelunkers and persons planning to be more than 30 days in an area where rabies is a constant threat should get the vaccine.

Smallpox
Smallpox was an acute, contagious illness characterized by fever, backache, and prostration followed by the appearance of an eruption of papules and vesicles which became pustular by the eighth day.

• CDC information on Smallpox
• President Bush's Smallpox FAQ
• CDC Smallpox Hotline: (888) 246-2675

Tetanus/Diphtheria
Tetanus (Lockjaw) and Diphtheria are two serious diseases. The tetanus germ usually enters the body because of a cut or wound. It can cause stiffness of the muscles of the neck and jaw and even death. Diphtheria causes a thick coating of the nose, throat, and airway and is spread through germs in the nose and throat of infected persons.

• How do I prevent Tetanus and Diphtheria?
  They are easily prevented by vaccination. All people should first have a primary series of at least three doses of any Tetanus and Diphtheria vaccine.
• How often should I have the Td vaccine?
  After the primary series a Td dose is needed every ten year. If you have a dirty wound you may need a booster Td within five years.
• Where can I get the Td vaccine?
  The Occupational Health Clinic provides the Td vaccine without cost to you.

Varicella (chicken pox)
Chicken pox, usually a mild childhood illness caused by the varicella virus, can cause severe problems for adults who have never had chicken pox. These adults, especially pregnant women, the elderly, and immunocompromised persons, can develop serious complications, such as dehydration, pneumonia, meningitis, and even death.

• How will I know if I'm immune? The Occupational Health Clinic (OHC) will draw blood for a varicella antibody test. This test is free of charge through the OHC. A positive antibody test means you have had chicken pox and are unlikely to get it again. With a positive antibody test, you may work with patients who have chicken pox, even if you are pregnant.
  NOTE: You will not need this varicella blood test if you have laboratory documentation of a positive varicella antibody test.
• If I had chicken pox as a child, isn't that good enough? No, the OHC must have laboratory documentation of immunity. See VUMC Policy OP 30-10.07.
• What if I'm immune? If you are immune, no further action is needed. This result will be entered into the OHC database and the laboratory report will be filed in your permanent medical record.
• What if I'm NOT immune? You and your department will be notified of your non-immune status. At this time you will be offered the Varivax (varicella virus vaccine) vaccination.
  NOTE: If you are non-immune, you must inform your supervisor and OHC of any known contact with a person who has chicken pox, whether at work or away from work. Occupational Health will assess your exposure and determine if it is safe for you to work with patients during the incubation period for chicken pox.
• What is the Varivax Vaccine? It is a series of two injections given one month apart of the Varicella Virus Vaccine. This is a live virus and is approximately 95% effective in preventing chicken pox.

Travel Related Vaccines
Travel vaccinations are available for Vanderbilt faculty and staff traveling on Vanderbilt business. A signed Travel Authorization Form must be provided before vaccinations are administered.  Please contact the Occupational Health Clinic at 936-0955 to schedule an appointment for a travel related health assessment.    During your visit we will determine what vaccinations and other medications you need for your trip.  We provide all travel vaccines except yellow fever vaccine. The following link will allow you to see vaccine and travel health recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for the country that you plan to visit.

(http://www.cdc.gov/travel/destinat.htm)

HELPFUL LINKS

• Center for Disease Control
• OSHA
• Immunization Action Coalition
• Immunization Action Coalition's Vaccine Information
• OHC immunization information for new employees (Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader).
• OHC immunization form for new employees (Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader).