Healthcare workers are recommended to receive 2 doses of varicella vaccine if they are not immune
Non-immune healthcare workers are recommended to receive 2 doses of varicella vaccine given at least 4 weeks apart.
Nosocomial transmission of varicella is well recognised. Vaccination of healthcare workers helps to protect them from acquiring and transmitting varicella to vulnerable patients.4
Healthcare workers do not need to receive varicella-containing vaccine if they have either:
- documented evidence of 2 doses of varicella-containing vaccine, or
- a history of varicella infection, or
- serological evidence of immunity to varicella (see Serological testing for varicella immunity from infection or vaccination)5
Testing for seroconversion after varicella vaccine is not recommended. This is because immunity following vaccination is often not detectable using currently available blood tests. See Serological testing for varicella immunity from infection or vaccination. However, because varicella vaccination is not 100% effective, advise healthcare workers about the signs and symptoms of infection, and how to manage them appropriately according to local protocols if they develop varicella.
See also Recommended vaccines for people at increased risk of certain occupationally acquired vaccine-preventable diseases in Vaccination for people at occupational risk for more details.