Notes to Employer:
The exact language for the declination statement can be found in Appendix A of the
bloodborne pathogens standard. Employees must sign a
statement when declining the vaccination.
Participation in pre-screening must not be a prerequisite for receiving the vaccine.
Employees must not be required to waive liability in order to receive the vaccine.
Hepatitis B vaccine is to be provided even if an employee declines but later requests
it.
Vaccine is to be given in accordance with US Public Health Service recommendations.
Booster doses must be made available to employees if recommended in the future by
USPHS.
A copy of the health care professional's written opinion, stating whether hepatitis B
vaccine is indicated and/or has been received, must be provided to the employee within 15
working days. (Page A-2, or alternate form, should be returned to the employee after the
first dose of the vaccine, and updated after the third dose.)
If the schedule of vaccinations has been interrupted, the entire course does not
need to be restarted. According to current US Public Health Service recommendations,
vaccine doses administered at longer intervals (than the recommended schedule) provide
equally satisfactory protection, but optimal protection is not conferred until after the
third dose. If the vaccine series is interrupted after the first dose, the second and
third doses should be given separated by an interval of 3-5 months. Persons who are late
for the third dose should be given this dose when convenient. Post-vaccination testing is
not considered necessary in either situation. These recommendations may be updated by the
USPHS; call 404-332-4555 for current information. Reasonable effort should be made to
vaccinate the employee on schedule, unless the employee declines vaccination.