Hepatitis B (also called Hep B) vaccination is very important and you will not be able to work as a trainee nurse without it.
The Hepatitis B vaccine is recommended for anyone working in a setting where there’s a risk of infection. This can be through the bites of patients, needlestick injury, or through direct exposure to contaminated blood.
You will need a course of 3 vaccines, usually done within a period of 6 months (your healthcare professional will confirm your vaccination schedule). Please note that you can work 48h after the first dose, no need to wait for the full course of 3 doses to be completed before you commence your employment.
Ask your GP if they provide it to medical students – explain to them that you are a student, and not employed yet, therefore you cannot get it through work or use Occupational Health service. If your GP does not provide Hep B vaccination service – not all of them do – you might need to do it privately for a fee. For this, you can contact any travel vaccination clinic (e.g. some Boots pharmacies offer this service), or just google ‘Hep B vaccination near me’ and see where you can do it that is local to you.
If you are based in London, you can contact our partner practice, MyHealthcare Clinic, where you would be able to do the Hep B at a discounted price. Please click HERE to download more information.
If you have had Hep B vaccinations in the past, you need to either have a certificate/Dr’s note confirming that, or please contact your doctor to ask for a quick blood test to confirm your level of antibodies to make sure you are still protected to work in a medical environment.