What are employers involved in smallpox immunization efforts required to do to comply with the standard?
Because these employers should already be complying with the standard, only a few additional precautions will be necessary, including updating their exposure control plans so that they address smallpox vaccination, and providing their employees with vaccination procedure-specific training. As of January, 2003, CDC has determined that no commercially available safety-engineered bifurcated needle is an appropriate replacement for the bifurcated needle that is included in the pre-packaged kit that is being distributed for administering smallpox vaccine in this national program. If, in the future, improved safety devices become commercially available, the standard requires employers, as part of any exposure control plan modification, to evaluate whether any of those devices, including sharps with engineered sharps injury protections (SESIPs), may be appropriate for the work practices of their employees.
