Hong Kong Training Portal on
Infection Control and Infectious Disease

Vaccination (immunization) is a highly effective method of preventing certain infectious diseases. Vaccines are generally very safe, and serious adverse reactions are uncommon. Routine immunization programmes protect most of the world’s children from a number of infectious diseases that previously caused millions of deaths each year. For travellers, vaccination offers the possibility of avoiding some infectious diseases that may be encountered abroad. - International Travel and Health, WHO

In particular, vaccination for health care workers (HCW) is one of the essential aspects of occupational medicine. HCW are at risk for exposure to infectious diseases due to direct patient contacts or handling of infectious materials. If they get infected, they may spread the infections to the patients they are caring for or to their family members.