Vol. 451 No. 4
66 Ms Keogh asked the Minister for Education her policy on vaccination against the hepatitis A and B virus in view of the implementation requirements of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Biological Agents) Regulations, 1994; and the number and percentage of teachers, including workers in special schools, vaccinated in each of the years 1993 and 1994. [6714/95]
The issue of vaccination for school staff against infection from hepatitis has been under consideration by my Department in conjunction with the Department of Health in the context of the preparation of a manual by the health promotion unit for issue to schools.
The manual which will issue shortly advises in the case of hepatitis A that immune globulin may be given to those, including teachers, who have had close contact with persons infected. The available vaccine can be used to abort outbreaks within schools and to immunise those in areas where the risk of acquiring hepatitis A is high.
The position in relation to hepatitis B is that in general there is considered to be little risk within the school and, provided correct procedures for handling potentially infectious secretions are adopted, hepatitis B carriers can be admitted to school or day care without restriction.
In the event of exposure to hepatitis B immediate use of immune globulin and hepatitis vaccine can be effected in preventing infection. It is recommended that an immunisation programme for all non-immune personnel and children should be considered in the case of a school caring for many hepatitis B infected children.
There is no information available to my Department on the number and percentage of teachers vaccinated against the disease in ordinary schools.
In the case of the special schools for young offenders, all staff members including teachers are offered free vaccination against hepatitis B. The vaccination process is designed to develop adequate antibody after three vaccine doses. The vaccine doses are delivered by injection. Details of the number of staff in these special schools who availed of the vaccination in 1993-94 are as follows:
|
School |
No. of Staff |
No. Vaccinated in 1993-94 |
|
Trinity House |
89 |
45 |
|
Oberstown Boys' Centre |
76 |
30 |
|
Oberstown Girls' Centre |
38 |
30 |
|
St. Joseph's Special School |
87 |
29 |
|
Finglas Children's |
||
|
Centre |
86 |
62 |
