Measles Alert and Immunisation Requirements

Friday 01, April 2011

In the last month, there have been 29 recorded cases of measles in NSW, seven of which were related to unvaccinated or partially vaccinated travellers returning from overseas.

“In Australia most people diagnosed with measles have recently travelled overseas and not been vaccinated,” said Dr Jeremy McAnulty, Director of Centre for Health Protection. “However, most of the recent measles cases have no history of overseas travel indicating there has been spread within the local community to people who are not fully vaccinated.”

Locum doctors working within NSW Health are required to provide documented evidence of immunisation against measles, mumps and rubella if born during or after 1966.

Before commencing work, health practitioners must also show screening or vaccination against the following infectious diseases: hepatitis B, varicella (chickenpox), TB as well as diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis. Acceptable evidence is outlined in the table below; however, for more information on what is required please contact your Health 24-7 representative.

DISEASE	Acceptable evidence of protection against specified infectious diseases includes a written record of vaccination signed by the provider and/or serological confirmation of protection. This does not include a statutory declaration.
Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis	One documented dose of adult diphtheria/tetanus/pertussis vaccine (dTpa)
Hepatitis B	Documented evidence of a completed, age appropriate, course of hepatitis B vaccine and documented evidence of ant-HBs ≥ 10mlU/mL; or documented evidence of past hepatitis B infection (anti-HBc).
Measles, mumps, rubella	Birth date before 1966; or documented evidence of 2 doses of MMR vaccine at least one month apart; or documented evidence of positive IgG for measles, mumps and rubella.
TB	All persons will need to be screened for TB (to exclude active TB and establish baseline TB status) by local Chest Clinic/Local Health Network Accredited TST Provider.
Varicella (chickenpox)	History of chickenpox; or documentation of physician diagnosed shingles; or documented evidence of a positive varicella IgG; or documented evidence of age appropriate varicella vaccination.