**GBG-R - STAFF HEALTH AND SAFETY – HEPATITUS B IMMUNIZATION** **Last Updated Date:** 03/25/2014 **Adoption Date:** 01/10/2006 The policy of the South Hadley School Committee will be to provide immunization to employees identified by the Board of Health as being at risk of infection for hepatitis B. South Hadley School System Administrative procedures will govern the implementation of this policy. ### Administrative Procedures 1.   An employee will be determined to be at risk if he/she is a member of one or more of the following groups: A.  Staff of school programs for developmentally disabled if attended by known HBV carrier; or is attended by children whose physical and or behavioral condition warrant protecting staff. (e.g. students who bite, who bleed, or who are not toilet trained). B.  Health care workers and others with direct occupational risk. (e.g. school nurses). (A. and B. are adapted from the Infectious Disease committee of the American Academy of Pediatrics as referenced in School Health Alert, October 1992) C.  Staff for whom it is the determination of the Board of Health that immunization is prudent. 2.   An employee who feels he or she is at risk must submit a written request for immunization in which the potential risk factors are identified.       The nurse should review the written request to make sure it is accurate in its description of work-related risk factors.  If there are appropriate actions that can be taken to reduce any risk factors, the nurse should notify the building principal or proper administrator of the actions which should be taken.       Upon reviewing the request, the nurse should forward it to the Board of Health for final review and recommendation. 3.   If the Board of Health finds that the individual is at risk for possible infection due to job-related factors, then the employee will be immunized by the town public health department at a time to be set by that department. In the event that the public health department does not have access to the necessary physician services, the immunization will be arranged with a physician to be designated by the school department. Such immunization will be done at school department expense except to the extent that the public health department or the employee's insurance will cover the cost. 4.   Individuals who substitute on a regular basis, as determined by the superintendent of schools, for individuals who are covered by this policy shall also be covered by this policy. 5.   The principal will be responsible for maintaining a posting of this policy in each school, and the school nurse will be responsible for notifying at risk individuals as defined under Section 1 of this policy.