Policy Details Page

Policy No. 6512
Management Support

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INFECTION CONTROL PROGRAM

In order to safeguard the school community from the spread of certain vaccine-preventable diseases and in recognition that prevention is a means of combating the spread of disease, the school board strongly urges that susceptible school staff members (including volunteers, student teachers and substitutes) provide evidence of immunity against TD (Tetanus-Diphtheria) and MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella). Susceptible persons are all staff members, regardless of age, who are unable to provide documentation of immunity.

To facilitate this prevention program, the board of directors authorizes the superintendent to make arrangements for staff immunization at a convenient time and place, and at a nominal cost to the staff member. A "susceptible" staff member may be exempt from the requirements for immunization by filing a written objection to such immunization on the basis of religious or philosophical grounds, when a private physician certifies that the staff member's physical condition contraindicates immunization or when the staff member provides documentation of immunity by blood test.

In the event of an outbreak of a vaccine-preventable disease in school, the local health officer has the authority to exclude a susceptible staff member. A staff member granted an exemption for religious, philosophical or medical reasons or without an acceptable immunization record on file may be excluded, as he/she is considered to be susceptible. If excluded he/she is not eligible to receive sick leave benefits because of the exclusion itself. To qualify for benefits, he/she must be ill or temporarily physically disabled.

The superintendent or designee shall evaluate all job duties of district employees to determine which employees have reasonably anticipated on-the-job exposure to blood or other potentially infectious material. The district shall maintain a list of job classifications where employees have reasonably anticipated exposure to blood or other potentially infectious material. The hepatitis B vaccine shall be provided at the district's expense to all employees identified as having risk of directly contacting blood or other potentially infectious material at work.

In the event that an employee has a specific job-related exposure to blood or other potentially infectious material, the employee will be provided, at district expense, with confidential medical evaluation, follow-up and treatment, if indicated.

The district shall provide training to all employees with reasonably anticipated exposure to blood or other potentially infectious material. All employees shall receive district provided training on HIV/AIDS within six months of initial employment.

Records shall be kept by the Human Resources Department in strict confidence regarding the hepatitis B vaccine status of all employees with reasonably anticipated exposure to blood or other potentially infectious material and for each occupational exposure an employee has to blood or other potentially infectious material. The records shall be kept in Human Resources for Policy No. 6512 Management Support Page 2 of 2 the duration of the employee's employment, plus thirty years. The district shall also keep records that employees have received appropriate training.

Cross reference:
Board Policy 3414 Infectious Disease

Legal References:
WAC 246-110-001 Control of communicable disease
WAC 296-62-08001 Bloodborne pathogens
WAC 392-198 Training--school employees--HIV/AIDS

Adoption Date: 4/25/02