Prevention of infectious diseases in the long term travellers. The strategic role of Occupational Health Department

Introduction
Saipem, with more than 40,000 employees, is one of the biggest contractor company in oil and gas industry. The workplace are in remote area with a high risks of infectious diseases, where workers spend many years. For this reason The Vaccinations’ program is strategic for the prevention.

Methods
Vaccinations that are performed can be divided into compulsory, suggested and recommended.

• Compulsory Vaccinations

Vaccinations required in order to enter certain geographic areas or to obtain visas in certain Countries. These vaccinations are usually performed by the National Health Authorities or prescribed authorities. Vaccinations prescribed by the laws in force in each employee’s country of origin, and usually performed during childhood are excluded from the compulsory vaccinations program. 

• Recommended for all employees vaccinations 

Those correlated to specific health risks for all operational units. This group of inoculations includes vaccinations against: Hepatitis A and B, Typhoid fever, Tetanus, diphtheria, Flu (seasonal), Cholera. These can be performed both by Saipem Group Companies medical and nursing personnel, and by travel clinic. 

• Recommended for specific areas

These are inoculations correlated to specific health risks for certain area or environments. This group of vaccines includes (but is not limited at): Japanese encephalitis, thick borne encephalitis, Meningococcal meningitis and poliomyelitis. These inoculations can be performed by Saipem medical personnel or by travel clinic, in accordance with the vaccination scheme recommendations issued by the Company’s Health function Head Office for the respective geographical zone.

Results
In the last 10 years about 10.000 vaccinations were performed. An important decrease of infectious disease noted, also for the increase of herd immunity.

Discussion
One of the most important preventive measures for the Health is the vaccinations’ program. Is an important way for the control of infectious diseases in the workers’ population.