402.11 Communicable Diseases - Employees
COMMUNICABLE DISEASES - EMPLOYEES
Employees with a communicable disease will be allowed to perform their customary employment duties provided they are able to perform the essential functions of their position and their presence does not create a substantial risk of illness or transmission to students or other employees. The term “communicable disease” shall mean an infectious or contagious disease spread from person to person, or animal to person, or as defined by law.
Prevention and control of communicable diseases shall be included in the school district’s bloodborne pathogens exposure control plan. The procedures shall include scope and application, definitions, exposure control, methods of compliance, universal precautions, vaccination, post-exposure evaluation, follow-up, communication of hazards to employees and record keeping. This plan shall be reviewed annually by the superintendent.
The health risk to immunodepressed employees shall be determined by their personal physician. The health risk to others in the school district environment from the presence of an employee with a communicable disease shall be determined on a case-by-case basis by the employee’s personal physician, a physician chosen by the school district or public health officials.
An employee shall notify the superintendent when the employee learns the employee has a communicable disease. It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent, when the superintendent, upon investigation, has knowledge that a reportable communicable disease is present, to notify the Iowa Department of Public Health.
An employee who is at work and who has a communicable disease which creates a substantial risk of harm to a student, coworkers, or others at the workplace shall report the condition to the superintendent any time the employee is aware that the disease actively creates such risk.
Health data of an employee is confidential and it shall not be disclosed to third parties. Employee medical records shall be kept in a file separate from their personal file.
It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent to develop administrative regulations stating the procedures for dealing with employees with a communicable disease.
Adopted: Jan. 9, 1989
Reviewed: Feb. 10, 1997
March 12, 2001
December 19, 2005
June 20, 2011
July 11, 2016
Revised: November 16, 1998
402.11E Hepatitis B Vaccine Information & Record
HEPATITIS B VACCINE INFORMATION AND RECORD
The Disease
Hepatitis B is a viral infection caused by the Hepatitis B virus (HBV) which causes death in 1-2% of those infected. Most people with HBV recover completely, but approximately 5-10% become chronic carriers of the virus. Most of these people have no symptoms, but can continue to transmit the disease to others. Some may develop chronic active hepatitis and cirrhosis. HBV may be a causative factor in the development of liver cancer. Immunization against HBV can prevent acute hepatitis and its complications.
The Vaccine
The HBV vaccine is produced from yeast cells. It has been extensively tested for safety and effectiveness in large scale clinical trials. Approximately 90 percent of healthy people who receive two doses of the vaccine and a third dose as a booster achieve high levels of surface antibody (anti-HBs) and protection against the virus. The HBV vaccine is recommended for workers with potential for contact with blood or body fluids. Full immunization requires three doses of the vaccine over a six-month period, although some persons may not develop immunity even after three doses.
There is no evidence that the vaccine has ever caused Hepatitis B. However, persons who have been infected with HBV prior to receiving the vaccine may go on to develop clinical hepatitis in spite of immunization.
Dosage and Administration
The vaccine is given in three intramuscular doses in the deltoid muscle. Two initial doses are given one month apart and the third dose is given six months after the first.
Possible Vaccine Side Effects
The incidence of side effects is very low. No serious side effects have been reported with the vaccine. Ten to 20 percent of persons experience tenderness and redness at the site of injection and low grade fever. Rash, nausea, joint pain, and mild fatigue have also been reported. The possibility exists that other side effects may be identified with more extensive use.
See Attachment.
