Best jabs for people that work in healthcare
Healthcare staff come into contact with infections more often than most people. Patient care can involve close conversation, hands on examinations, shared spaces, and exposure to coughs, vomit, blood, and other body fluids. This matters for your health. It also matters for patient safety, especially for people who are older, pregnant, or immunocompromised.
Vaccination is one part of infection control. It reduces the chance you become seriously unwell. It can also reduce disruption at work and protect vulnerable patients.
This guide is general information. Your employer or Occupational Health team will confirm what you personally need, based on your role and risk assessment.
You will get a clear checklist, role based extras, and a practical way to check your own records. You will also see where local services can help in Fulham and West London.
Who counts as a healthcare worker for vaccines
Healthcare worker vaccination advice often applies beyond hospital wards.
This can include NHS staff in patient care.
It can include GP staff and dental teams.
It includes pharmacy teams.
It includes care home and domiciliary care staff.
It includes students on placement.
It can include cleaners, porters, and lab staff with patient facing exposure.
It includes agency staff and bank staff working in clinical areas.
Quick checklist: the most important jabs
✅ Flu vaccine every year
✅ COVID 19 vaccine when eligible
✅ Hepatitis B for blood and body fluid exposure roles
✅ MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) with evidence of protection
✅ Varicella (chickenpox) if not immune
✅ Td IPV (tetanus, diphtheria, polio) keep routine doses up to date
✅ TB vaccine (BCG) for higher risk roles
✅ Hepatitis A for specific exposure or travel
✅ Meningococcal vaccines for certain lab roles
✅ Rabies vaccine for specialist risk or travel
Flu jab: the annual one most staff are offered
Who should get it
Flu spreads easily in healthcare settings.
Annual flu vaccination is recommended for staff directly involved in patient care, and is commonly offered through Occupational Health.
When to get it
Flu vaccines are offered each autumn or early winter.
Late vaccination can still be useful if flu is circulating.
Common questions
I had flu last year. Do I still need it
Yes. Flu viruses change. The vaccine is updated and offered every year.
Will it wipe me out for days
Most people get a sore arm for a day or two. Some feel tired. Serious reactions are uncommon.
COVID 19 vaccination: what matters for healthcare workers now
Eligibility and timing
COVID 19 vaccine offers change over time.
In recent seasonal programmes, eligibility has focused on older adults, care home residents, and people who are immunosuppressed.
If you are not eligible on the NHS, your employer may still advise vaccination for specific roles.
Why it still matters
Vaccination reduces the risk of severe illness.
It can also reduce short notice sickness absence during busy periods.
Hepatitis B: crucial for exposure to blood and body fluids
Who needs it
Hepatitis B vaccination is recommended for healthcare workers who may have direct contact with blood or blood stained body fluids.
This includes roles with a risk of sharps injuries, wound care, dentistry, blood sampling, and some acute settings.
Course and proof of protection
Many people have a course of doses followed by a blood test to confirm protection.
Antibody levels are commonly checked one to four months after a primary course, as part of Occupational Health pathways.
If you are not immune
Occupational Health will advise next steps.
This can include extra doses, boosters, or further assessment after testing.
MMR: protecting against measles outbreaks
Why it is especially important in healthcare
Measles spreads very easily.
In clinical areas, one case can expose many patients and staff. Evidence of protection is important for patient safety.
What you need
Evidence of satisfactory protection can be shown by documented doses or an appropriate antibody test, depending on local policy.
If you are not sure you had it
You can check NHS records if available.
If records are missing, extra doses are not expected to cause harm.
Varicella (chickenpox): for staff without immunity
Who needs it
If you are a healthcare worker and not immune, vaccination may be recommended, especially for close contact with patients.
Why it matters in hospitals and care settings
Chickenpox can be serious in pregnancy and in immunocompromised patients.
It can also disrupt staffing in close contact teams.
If you are not sure you have had chickenpox, you may need a blood test to check immunity.
Tetanus, diphtheria, polio (Td IPV): staying up to date
Why it is relevant
This is less about routine patient contact.
It matters for wounds, bites, and exposure to contamination, and it becomes relevant for travel.
Booster basics
The NHS advice is to make sure routine vaccinations are up to date.
For some travel destinations, a booster may be recommended if your last dose was more than 10 years ago.
Whooping cough (pertussis): the niche but important one
If you work with newborns or pregnant patients
Some settings prioritise pertussis vaccination to reduce the risk of passing infection to young babies.
This can include neonatal and maternity linked roles.
Pregnancy note
If you are pregnant, follow the pregnancy guidance for whooping cough vaccination timing.
TB and BCG: only for some roles
Who might need it
BCG may be recommended if your work puts you at higher risk of TB.
This includes health workers who work with people with TB, and some lab roles.
Screening vs vaccination
Occupational Health may do screening first.
Vaccination is then considered based on risk and test results.
Role based extras: quick guide
Dentistry and oral surgery
Check flu, COVID 19 eligibility, Hepatitis B, MMR, varicella.
Care homes and domiciliary care
Check flu, COVID 19 eligibility, MMR, varicella.
Lab staff handling pathogens
Check Hepatitis B. Check meningococcal vaccines if working with meningococci, usually via Occupational Health.
Ambulance and A and E teams
Check flu, COVID 19 eligibility, Hepatitis B, MMR, varicella.
Overseas work and travel clinics
Check travel risk vaccines such as Hepatitis A, typhoid, rabies, tick borne encephalitis, Japanese encephalitis, cholera, and yellow fever.
How to know what you personally need
Simple self check
✅ Your role and exposures (blood, aerosols, maternity, TB clinics, lab work)
✅ Your vaccine history (Occupational Health records, GP records, Red Book history if relevant)
✅ Your immunity status (blood tests when advised, such as Hepatitis B or varicella)
Where to get vaccinated
Occupational Health is the usual route for role required vaccines.
NHS routes may apply for routine and eligible seasonal programmes.
Private pharmacy services can help with a vaccine review, travel risk assessment, and paid vaccines where appropriate, including for travel.
Travel and overseas work: vaccines you may need to pay for
The NHS notes that some travel vaccines are not provided free and you may need to pay, depending on the vaccine and the number of doses.
Yellow fever vaccine is only available from designated centres.
At Fulham Palace Pharmacy in Fulham and West London, the travel clinic offers travel consultations and a range of travel vaccines, including:
✅ HPV vaccine (£192)
✅ Tick borne encephalitis vaccine (£78)
✅ Typhoid vaccine (£30)
✅ Hepatitis B vaccine (£42)
✅ Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B vaccine (£85)
✅ Rabies vaccine (£84)
✅ Japanese encephalitis vaccine (£119)
✅ Cholera vaccine (£48)
✅ Yellow fever vaccine (£85)
✅ Hepatitis A vaccine (£48)
NHS vaccines are also available at the pharmacy where applicable.
Safety, side effects, and working shifts
Most vaccines cause mild short term side effects.
A sore arm is common.
Tiredness can happen.
Feverish feelings can happen.
Many vaccines can be given at the same visit. Your clinician will advise what can be co administered and what needs spacing.
For night shifts, plan for arm soreness.
Book when you have lighter lifting tasks.
Drink fluids and keep moving your arm after vaccination.
FAQs
What vaccines are mandatory for healthcare workers in the UK?
Most vaccines are recommended based on a role risk assessment.
Employers may require evidence of protection for certain roles, especially for blood exposure and infectious disease risks.
Can I work if I am not vaccinated?
Policies vary by employer and role.
Occupational Health can advise adjustments based on patient safety and individual risk.
What if I have needle phobia?
Tell the vaccinator.
Many people do better with a calm pace, distraction, and lying down.
What if I am immunocompromised or pregnant?
Some vaccines are not suitable in certain situations, especially live vaccines.
Occupational Health, your GP, or your specialist team should advise.
I am a student on placement. What do I need?
Placements often require the same checks as staff in similar roles.
Start early so any multi dose courses can be completed on time.
Printable checklist for Occupational Health
Copy and print this section.
✅ Job role and department
✅ Known exposures (blood, sharps, TB, lab pathogens, maternity, neonatal)
✅ Dates of flu vaccines (last two seasons if known)
✅ COVID 19 vaccine dates and eligibility status
✅ Hepatitis B course completed and any antibody result
✅ Two documented MMR doses or evidence of immunity
✅ Varicella history, test result, or vaccine record
✅ BCG status if working with TB risk
✅ Planned travel countries and dates if travelling for work
Key takeaways and next step in Fulham
Healthcare vaccination protects you and your patients.
It reduces disruption from outbreaks and staff sickness.
The practical step is a short vaccine review with your records, your role, and your travel plans.
Fulham Palace Pharmacy provides NHS vaccinations where applicable, plus travel consultations and travel vaccines for people living and working in Fulham and West London.
