BOARD STARTS PLANNING HEPATITIS VACCINATIONS

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, January 26, 1993                   TAG: 9301260289
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B3   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: Paul Dellinger
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short
BOARD STARTS PLANNING HEPATITIS VACCINATIONS
The Pulaski County Board of Supervisors on Monday night authorized a plan requiring county and Public Service Authority workers to receive hepatitis B vaccinations.
Emergency Services Coordinator Stan Crigger has prepared a draft plan in his capacity as safety officer. Localities face a federal requirement to develop a plan requiring vaccination of employees against the hepatitis B virus if their work could bring them into contact with it.
Animal-control and solid-waste employees are the main workers who would be at risk and so require the vaccinations. The Sheriff's Department already has a plan for its staff, including offering vaccinations.
Volunteer fire and rescue personnel could be included in the final plan for being offered vaccinations at county expense, but the cost - even through the Health Department - is about $100 per shot, so it would not be a small expense.
All affected departments will study the draft plan and change it as needed for their particular work, so that a final plan can be approved at the March meeting of the supervisors.

by Bhavesh Jinadra by CNB