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Immunizations - seasonal influenza - Management
Which poultry workers should receive influenza immunization?

  • Offer seasonal influenza immunization to the following people who work in close contact with poultry:
    • Workers employed at, or regularly visiting, registered poultry units who:
      • Routinely access enclosed poultry rearing or egg production areas.
      • Perform initial sorting of poultry eggs (if the sorting area is an integral part of the production unit).
      • Catch or cull poultry within enclosed poultry rearing or egg production areas.
      • Perform final clean-down of poultry sheds following depopulation of a poultry house.
    • Workers who collect and remove poultry manure or litter from within enclosed poultry rearing or egg production areas of registered poultry units.
    • Workers in poultry processing units who:
      • Catch and handle live birds.
      • Kill and eviscerate birds.
      • Cleanse and disinfect areas and equipment contaminated by poultry faeces.
  • Seasonal influenza vaccination is not recommended for the following poultry workers:
    • Workers in poultry units that do not require statutory registration.
    • Workers in and around farms that have registered poultry units, but who do not enter the enclosed poultry management areas or egg sorting facilities.
    • Workers delivering materials to poultry units.
    • Workers collecting or delivering eggs or poultry (live or dead) from poultry premises (unless also undertaking duties involving catching or culling poultry within enclosed poultry rearing or egg production areas).
    • Workers in poultry processing units handling poultry carcasses but not involved in killing or eviscerating poultry (unless also undertaking duties including working in poultry processing units that catch and handle live birds, or kill and eviscerate birds, or cleanse and disinfect areas and equipment contaminated by poultry faeces).
  • Seasonal influenza immunization is not recommended for people who keep poultry at home or who keep pigeons.
  • The influenza vaccine only protects against seasonal human influenza. It does not protect against avian influenza.

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