Which communicable disease should healthcare workers be vaccinated against?

• A. Hepatitis B
• B. Tuberculosis
• C. Influenza
• D. Measles

Answer: (A)

The main idea is protecting healthcare workers from exposures that commonly occur in clinical settings. Hepatitis B is highly infectious and can be transmitted through blood and body fluids, such as via needlestick injuries. The vaccine induces protective antibodies and, once immunity is established, provides long-lasting protection against chronic hepatitis B infection and its serious liver complications. Because of the high risk to staff and the potential for chronic disease, vaccination against Hepatitis B is strongly emphasized and often required for healthcare workers, making it the best answer.

Tuberculosis is mainly controlled through infection-control practices and regular screening; the vaccine for TB is not routinely used to protect adults in many countries because it doesn’t reliably prevent pulmonary TB in healthcare settings. Influenza vaccination is important and widely recommended to reduce seasonal illness and ward outbreaks, but it doesn’t address a specific high-risk occupational exposure as directly as the Hepatitis B vaccine. Measles vaccination is important for staff immunity and patient safety, but the strongest, most clearly prioritized occupational vaccine in this context is Hepatitis B.