5004 Policy – Infection Control Program

Immunization

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 superintendent strongly urges that employees and volunteers provide documentation of immunization or evidence of immunity against certain vaccine-preventable diseases. The following immunizations are recommended for school staff: measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), varicella (chickenpox), diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (Tdap and Td), influenza (flu) and COVID-19. Staff members born prior to January 1, 1957 need not provide evidence of immunity to measles; these individuals are considered naturally immune.

In the event of an outbreak of a vaccine-preventable disease in school, the local health officer has the authority to exclude a susceptible employee. If excluded, the employee is not eligible to receive sick leave benefits because of the exclusion itself. To qualify for benefits, the employee must be ill or temporarily physically-disabled or is otherwise provided for in a collective bargaining agreement.

Blood or Other Potentially Infectious Material (OPIM)

The superintendent or designee will evaluate all job duties of district employees to determine which employees have reasonably anticipated on-the-job exposure to blood or OPIM. The district will maintain a list of job classifications where employees have reasonably anticipated exposure to blood or OPIM. The hepatitis B vaccine will be provided at the district’s expense to all employees identified as having risk of directly contacting blood or OPIM at work. In the event that an employee has a specific exposure to blood or OPIM, the employee will be provided, at district expense, with confidential medical evaluation and other follow-up as required by law.

Employees with reasonably anticipated exposure to blood and OPIM will participate in district-provided training before being assigned tasks where occupational exposure might occur and at least annually and within one year of the previous training.

Records will be kept in strict confidence regarding the hepatitis B vaccine status of all employees with reasonably anticipated exposure to blood or OPIM and for each occupational exposure an employee has to blood or OPIM. The records will be kept for the duration of the employee’s employment, plus thirty years. The district will also keep records that employees have received appropriate training.

Cross References:

Policy 3414 - Infectious Disease

Policy 5630 - Volunteers

Legal References:

Chapter 246-110 WAC Contagious disease -- School districts and day care centers

Chapter 296-823 WAC Occupation exposure to bloodborne pathogens

Chapter 392-198 WAC Training school employees HIV/AIDS

WAC 246-100-036 Responsibilities and dutiesLocal health officers

RCW 43.06.220 State of emergency Powers of governor pursuant to proclamation

RCW 43.70.130 Powers and duties of secretary General

RCW 70.05.070 Local health officer Powers and duties

RCW 70.05.120 Violations Remedies Penalties