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Why You May Not Want to Vaccinate - Making An Informed Choice

Any information obtained here is not to be construed as medical or legal advice. The decision to vaccinate and how you implement that decision is yours and yours alone.

Hepatitis B Disease & Vaccine Dangers - Page 4

Employee refusal rights regarding vaccines under OSHA

From the the OSHA (Occupational Health & Safety Administration> site - PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD - do what you can to get this information out in the workplace! OSHA info

I have excerpted from this....

They have to provide you a declination form - 29 CFR 1910.1030, Appendix A,

XIII.Clarification of the Standard on Occupational Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens

A.Scope and Application
B.Definitions
C.Exposure Control Plan
D.Methods of Compliance
E.HIV and HBV Research Laboratories and Production Facilities
F.Hepatitis B Vaccination and Post Exposure Evaluation and Follow-up
G.Employee Information and Training
H.Recordkeeping

F.Hepatitis B Vaccination and Post Exposure Evaluation and Follow-up 29

CFR 1910.1030(f). This paragraph provides a means to protect employees from infection caused by the hepatitis B virus by requiring employers to make the hepatitis B vaccination available to employees with occupational exposure to blood or OPIM. It also ensures that employees receive appropriate medical follow-up after each specific exposure incident.

1.General - Paragraph (f)(1). This paragraph refers to the hepatitis B vaccination as both the hepatitis B vaccine and vaccination series. These are to be made available to all occupationally exposed employees. In addition, a post-exposure evaluation and follow-up procedures are to be made available to all employees who experience an exposure incident. While it is OSHA's intent to have the employer remove, as much as possible, obstacles to the employee's acceptance of the vaccine, the term "made available" emphasizes that the employee has the option to decline participation in the vaccination and follow-up programs.

7.Hepatitis B Vaccination - Paragraph (f)(2). The Compliance Officer should determine whether or not all occupationally exposed employees have had the hepatitis B vaccination series made available to them after the training required by paragraph (g)(2)(vii)(I) and within 10 working days of their initial assignment. The term "made available" includes the healthcare professional's evaluation and arranging for the administration of the first dose of the hepatitis B vaccination series to begin within the 10 days. This includes all employees with occupational exposure, regardless of how often the exposure may occur. Part-time and temporary employees are included in this coverage. The vaccine does not have to be made available if the employer documents the exemption(s) set forth in paragraph (f)(2). It does not have to be administered if the employer can produce the signature of the employee on the mandatory declination form (See Appendix A of 29 CFR 1910.1030.)

9.Paragraph (f)(2)(ii). Prevaccination screening for antibody status cannot be required of an employee, although if an employer wishes, he/she can make it available at no cost to employees. An employee may decline the prescreening, and the employer must still make the vaccination series available to the employee.

10.Paragraph (f)(2)(iii). The signing of the hepatitis B vaccine declination form by the employee, at the time the vaccination is made available, does not relieve the employer from the requirement to provide the vaccine at a later date if the employee so chooses.

11.Paragraph (f)(2)(iv). Although the declination form set forth in 29 CFR 1910.1030, Appendix A, need not be reproduced verbatim, any modifications to that language shall be made for the sole purpose of improving employee comprehension.

Sample declination form

If you do not wish to have the vaccine at this time, please sign the refusal form.

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REFUSAL FORM FOR HEPATITIS B VACCINE

I understand that due to my occupational exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials I may be at risk of acquiring hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. I have been given the opportunity to be vaccinated with hepatitis B vaccine, at no charge to myself. However, I decline hepatitis B vaccination at this time. I understand that by declining this vaccine I continue to be at risk of acquiring hepatitis B, a serious disease. If in the future I continue to have occupational exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials and I want to be vaccinated with hepatitis B vaccine, I can receive the vaccination series at no charge to me.

________

Date

______________________________

(Print) Name and Soc. Sec. No.

_________________

Signature

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ALL INFORMATION, DATA, AND MATERIAL CONTAINED, PRESENTED, OR PROVIDED HERE IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS REFLECTING THE KNOWLEDGE OR OPINIONS OF THE PUBLISHER, AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR INTENDED AS PROVIDING MEDICAL OR LEGAL ADVICE.  THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO VACCINATE IS AN IMPORTANT AND COMPLEX ISSUE AND SHOULD BE MADE BY YOU, AND YOU ALONE, IN CONSULTATION WITH YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.