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PL CMO (2003)8: Chickenpox (varicella) immunisation for health care workers

  • Document type:
    Professional Letter - Chief Medical Officer
  • Author:
    Department of Health
  • Published date:
    4 December 2003
  • Primary audience:
    Professionals
  • Gateway reference:
    2003
  • Series number:
    PL CMO (2003)8; PL CNO (2003)9
  • Pages:
    4
  • Copyright holder:
    Crown

Following advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), varicella immunisation is now recommended for non-immune health care workers (HCWs), who work in primary care and in hospitals (both in the NHS and privately) and who have direct patient contact. This is recommended to protect susceptible HCWs and also to protect vulnerable patients from acquiring chickenpox from an infected member of staff. Equivalent to PL/CDO/2003/1, PL/CNO/2003/9, PL/CPHO/2003/6.

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