Immunization of laboratory animal workers: occupational health and safety aspects

ABSTRACT

Occupational immunization is an integral part of institutional occupational safety and health (OSH) programs. Laboratory animal workers (LAWs) are personnel working with various small and large vertebrate animals. LAWs are at the risk of contracting a myriad of zoonotic infections as they are occupationally exposed to animals and their biological products. Immunizing employees against such zoonotic pathogens is the best way to prevent disease transmission. This review provides information on various zoonotic diseases, vaccines available to protect against such infections, and vaccination schedules. Certain sections of institutional occupational immunization programs such as risk evaluation, immunizing special categories of personnel and exemption from immunization among others are also described. Additionally, the authors have discussed various probable modes of impact through which occupational immunization of laboratory animal workers fulfills different United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

KEYWORDS:

• Infectious diseases
• one health
• pathogens
• vaccines
• workplace safety
• zoonoses

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to the management and scientific team at Zydus Research Centre, Ahmedabad for their assistance in preparing this manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

No data has been generated from this manuscript.

Institution and Ethics approval and informed consent

Approval or consent is not relevant to this manuscript as it is a review article.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.