Compliance with NSW Health Immunisation requirements is mandatory and you must demonstrate that you have had the correct vaccinations and ensure your full immunisation history is recorded on the vaccination card. Students/facilitators often present with incomplete or missing documentation, which results in multiple return visits to the GP to obtain the correct documentation that is required for a complete and comprehensive immunisation review to take place by health staff. This review must be done prior to attending an on-campus verification session or supplying documentation for review. Health staff is limited for time to review multiple documents and childhood vaccination records. Remember, the 'Vaccination Record card for Healthcare Workers and Students' is required to be completed correctly.
This document is your permanent record as an adult and will be used as a baseline for all future screenings as well as when it comes time for you to seek employment in NSW Health. If it is not completed correctly, you will be required to return to the GP to have incomplete information added or rectified.
Ensure all childhood vaccination & immunisation history is recorded on the 'Vaccination Record card for Healthcare Workers and Students' and every entry has a signature, date and practice stamp affixed to validate every entry as legitimate. By ensuring this is done, NSW Health can be assured that the entry is not a fraudulent one. If the GP does not have a practice stamp, have them provide documentation on their letterhead, stating that they were the medical officer or accredited immunisation provider that administered the vaccinations listed.
All students & facilitators, who are required to attend a clinical placement in any of the following areas, must have had the annual influenza vaccination and provide proof of it when being screened by NSW Health or provide proof of immunisation on the first day of placement. Proof of immunisation should be recorded on the vaccination card and shown when requested.
- Antenatal, perinatal and post-natal areas including labour wards and recovery rooms and antenatal outreach programs
- Neonatal intensive care units; special care units; any home visiting heath service provided to neonates
- Paediatric intensive care units
- Transplant and oncology wards
- Intensive care units
Students are encouraged to review the supplied detailed advice provided to assist them to meet the mandatory requirements of NSW Health relating to their immunisation status review. This can sometimes be a complex, detailed and lengthy process. Follow the advice located here to assist in ensuring that all requirements are met. Missing, incomplete or poor quality documentation submitted will result in the student needing to return to their GP to have identified issues rectified. This can be time consuming for the student and possibly an expensive process. Review the information provided carefully to prevent this from occurring and use page 2 of the summary sheet as a check list prior to submitting documentation.
Remember the 'Vaccination Record card for Healthcare Workers and Students' is a legal document and must be completed as advised to be viewed as legitimate. This document, once completed correctly, will be used as a baseline for all future immunisation screenings as well as when you seek employment within NSW Health or any other health facility.
An example of how the 'Vaccination Record card for Healthcare Workers and Students' must be completed is located here.
A blank 'Vaccination Record card for Healthcare Workers and Students' is supplied here.
Those students who are identified as a non-responder to the hepatitis B vaccination must comply with requirements located here.
If you unable to provide documentary evidence of an age appropriate history of Hepatitis B vaccinations you will be required to complete & submit attachment 9; this must be countersigned by your GP or accredited immunisation provider and presented when attending an on campus verification session. The GP or accredited immunisation provider must record on the vaccination card that a 'verbal history with stat dec.' has been supplied by you; that is, you have stated that you have had an age appropriate course of Hepatitis B vaccinations. This entry must then be signed, dated and have a practice stamp affixed to validate the entry.
Serology that is supplied as supplemental evidence must be in English. Of particular note is the serology report for rubella. This is required to determine if you are immune to this disease as several companies perform this test and the only way reviewing health staff can determine if you are immune to this disease or not, is to review the 'notes section' on the serology report, as this is sometimes overlooked.
If you have spent more than three-months at any time in a country identified as a 'high risk' for Tuberculosis or have been exposed to Tuberculosis in any form you will be required to undergo Tuberculosis screening. This can be either as a Mantoux test OR IGRA blood test. If you have a Mantoux test, ensure the GP records on the vaccination card if you HAVE or HAVE NOT had a BCG previously administered as this will determine if further Tuberculosis testing is required, in the form of a 'two-step' Mantoux test.
To determine if you require TB screening ensure that attachment 7 is fully completed and provided to your GP or accredited immunisation provider.
When presenting immunisation documentation, you will also be required to complete and submit both attachment 6 and attachment 7.
A list of high risk countries for Tuberculosis is located here.
To assist the GP to manage a positive Mantoux or IGRA test, advice is supplied here.
To review the risks and complications associated with exposure to infectious diseases review the information located here.
A summary of current immunisation requirements to assist GPs is located here.
From 1 July 2019 all students that enrol in or have a ClinConnect file created for them to transfer into the following disciplines Medicine, Midwifery, Paramedicine and Dentistry & Oral Health will be required to complete and provide additional documentation which relates to NSW PD2019_026; students who undertake Exposure Prone Procedures (EPPs) must undergo testing for Blood Borne Viruses (BBVs) at the commencement of study in Australia or within the 12 months prior to commencement. They must complete this Declaration and have it verified by NSW Health before the first clinical placement. This process is then to be repeated every three years with a new declaration form completed by the student and submitted to NSW Health to update their ClinConnect file.
So in summary, when submitting documentation to your clinical school for review you must always provide the following documentation:
- Summary sheet - make sure the student section is completed.
- Vaccination card completed by your GP or accredited immunisation provider as per the advice provided here.
- Serology report for Rubella
- Attachment 6 and Attachment 7
- ONLY provide a completed attachment 9 if you are unable to provide your GP or accredited immunisation provider with evidence of a history of age appropriate Hepatitis B vaccinations and remember to have the GP record on the vaccination card that a statutory declaration has been signed confirming that an age appropriate dose of Hepatitis B vaccinations has been previously administered.
- Serology reports which must be in English or a document which has been officially translated into English.
- If enrolled in one of the identified disciplines above, ensure that the BBV form has been completed correctly noting the date of your last Hep B/C, HIV test and complete the document in full by initialling each section. This information will be added to your ClinConnect file.
NSW Health constantly strives to provide a safe working environment for its staff, visitors and most importantly the patients that utilise their services. By ensuring you are compliant with mandatory immunisation requirements you will be protecting yourself and others with whom you come into contact with.
Remember, the vaccination card is a legal document and must be completed correctly. The 'Vaccination Record card for Healthcare Workers and Students' is your record as an adult and will be used as a baseline for all future immunisation screenings as well as when you seek employment with NSW Health. As stated above by following this advice the potential of multiple return visits to your GP or accredited immunisation provider to get your documentation correct will be avoided if the advice is followed - so read what is supplied and supply what has been requested.
