Hepatitis Immunizations: More Important Now Than Ever

The program will quickly generate rosters of people needing follow-up, those overdue, and with provide this by the person's work shift. It also provides tracking of training, and exposures. I have my set up to put the information on our secure system network (limited access) so that in the event of a computer crash, the information is secure, backed up, and still accessible.

I am sure you wonder where I got this program. I received it several years ago from a GlaxoSmithKline representative. They also manufacture Twinrix. I have no association with either GlaxoSmithKline or the makers of Vactrac.

Wrap-up

Hepatitis immunization is a critical area that is often overlooked. It is important to get everyone immunized and also to track compliance ensuring your personnel are protected. You may be surprised when you start looking at your personnel records and trying to determine if all your personnel are protected. Looking to the future, it is likely we will be immunizing our personnel against other diseases and we need to maintain our vigilance in protecting our personnel.

For questions regarding this article or other topics, please contact Jim Sideras through his email address at: sideras@post.harvard.edu.

References:

International Association of Firefighters. The Fire Service Joint Labor Management Wellness-Fitness Initiative. Washington, DC: International Association of Firefighters/International Association of Fire Chiefs; 2000:34-38.

Federal Emergency Management Agency. Director's Policy No. 4-99.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Hepatitis A. In: Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases. 8th ed. 2004; 177-189.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Hepatitis B. In: Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases. 8th ed. 2004; 191-212.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Recommendations for prevention and control of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and HCV-related chronic liver disease. MMWR. 1998; (RR-19):1-39.

James Sideras (sa DARE us) is a Division Chief for Sioux Falls Fire Rescue. He is a 22-year veteran of SFFR and a registered nurse with a Masters of Science degree in nursing.

He received the Harvard University Fire Executive Fellowship and has also completed a Human Resources program at Cornell University. Currently in the National Fire Academy's Executive Fire Officer program, he has spoken at several national conferences on emergency medical topics.

Jim is a former intensive care burn nurse and a member of the National Association of EMS Physicians, Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, the South Dakota Nurses Association and the South Dakota EMT Association.

He is also getting a Masters degree in Administration Studies through the University of South Dakota.