Obligations
Dental practitioners are expected to undergo appropriate vaccinations.
Ahpra’s shared Code of Conduct outlines the professional conduct expected of registered practitioners which includes the obligations to:
- understand and apply the principles of public health, including infection and disease prevention and control, and health screening
- minimise risk to patients
- understand the importance of immunisation against communicable diseases and
- take appropriate precautions to limit the spread of infectious diseases.
Non-registered health practitioners (including dental assistants) must comply with the Code of Conduct for Non-Registered Health Practitioners [ https://www.hccc.nsw.gov.au/health-providers/unregistered-health-practitioners/code-of-conduct ]. This code outlines the obligations of non-registered practitioners diagnosed with a transmissible medical condition to take steps to practice in a way that does not put patients at risk and to follow advice from an appropriate medical practitioner to avoid transmission.
Practices must comply with the code of conduct for health organisations [ https://www.hccc.nsw.gov.au/Health-Providers/Health-Organisations/code-of-conduct ]. Practices must also comply with infection control expectations, Work Health and Safety regulations and also have a section on vaccination in their Infection Control Manual.Â
Practices should have a vaccination/immunisation program aligned with the current edition of the Australian Immunisation Handbook. The immunisation programme should include education, discussion and the provision of relevant information to support the immunisation strategy. Clinical support staff are also at risk of exposure to vaccine-preventable diseases. All staff should be encouraged to have appropriate vaccinations, be aware of their serology status for blood-borne viruses (BBVs), and be advised of the potential consequences of non-immunisation. The latter includes increased risk of acquiring infections in the workplace, increased probability of spreading infections to family members and close contacts, and restrictions on being able to work chairside when patients have active infections.
Discussions with all staff about their immunisation status should be documented when they are employed and periodically as required (e.g. annually or during the flu season). Staff have the right to refuse to be immunised, or refuse to share their status, but this should be accurately documented.
The ADA Guidelines for Infection Prevention and Control, Fifth Edition (pg 65)
Immunisation of Healthcare workers is recommended for:
- Hepatitis B (HBV)
- Varicella (if seronegative)
- Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) (if non-immune)
- Pertussis (whooping cough)
- Viral influenza (annual)
- Covid 19 new strains (working in residential aged care)
- Hepatitis A (working with remote Indigenous communities)
- Tuberculosis (if at risk of exposure to drug resistant cases of tuberculosis)
Immunisation records
(Key points from the ADA Guidelines for Infection Prevention and Control, Fifth Edition)
The practice is responsible for keeping, maintaining and annually updating a register of the vaccination status and allergy status of dental staff. (Staff should also maintain their own personal immunisation and screening records.)
A practice immunisation register may include:
- Name
- Role
- Employment start date
- Immunisation status (immune/unknown/refusal) and vaccination history by disease
- Detail regarding discussions and recommendations for immunisation
- For registered practitioners, a simple signed statement in the immunisation register which states that the practitioner is aware of their BBV status, and is aware of the CDNA Guidelines and practices in accordance with them.
- Date of initial review
- Date the next review is due
- This information should be updated when staff receive further vaccinations (e.g. for viral influenza) or booster injections
A practice immunisation register does not need to include and it is not appropriate to ask for individual serology results of each staff member.
Key compliance items for immunisation
Ensure all dental team members are aware of immunisations required for healthcare workers, and they have an opportunity to declare their immunisation and allergy status regularly.
Special Circumstances
From time to time situations might arise (e.g. epidemics and pandemics) where specific public health orders might apply. Updated orders are made publicly available. Practitioners and all other staff are required to be familiar with these orders and ensure they comply.
Practitioners employed by NSW Health are governed by NSW Health policies that may differ from the information provided above. Vaccination is mandatory for practitioners (category A workers) seeking work in the public sector. Information should be obtained directly from NSW Health.
Information for Healthcare Workers infected with BBVs
Registered practitioners who perform exposure prone procedures have specified obligations with respect to the Australian National Guidelines for Management of Health Care Workers known to be infected with Blood Borne Viruses.
Each practitioner must make a yearly declaration that they practice in accordance with these guidelines.
Knowledge of BBV status is recommended for:
- Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
- Hepatitis B Virus (HBV)
- Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)
Information Resources on Vaccination and Immunisation
ADA Guidelines for Infection Prevention and Control:
https://portal.ada.org.au/infection-control-resource?resource=51
Australian Immunisation Handbook:
The Australian government vaccination schedule:
Ahpra Vaccination and Immunisation Information
https://www.ahpra.gov.au/Resources/COVID-19/Vaccination-immunisation-information.aspx#
Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI):
https://www.health.gov.au/committees-and-groups/atagi
Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care, immunisations for health care workers:
Disclaimer:Â This is one of a series of Advisory Services information sheets created by ADA NSW. They are intended as general guides that highlight key pieces of information frequently requested. They do not set out to provide comprehensive information about a topic and they are not legal advice. Please be mindful that information provided in these resources can change after the publication date.
