In Jönköping County alone, there are several students who run health and care programs that do not offer vaccine against hepatitis B. This is despite the fact that the students risk contacting infected persons in practice.
And according to Malin Bengnér, who is an infection prevention physician in the Jönköping County region, it is the schools' responsibility to make the risk assessment.
- The schools take on the role of employer here and I wonder if they really make that assessment then, that the students would not need the vaccine.
But is there anything to force schools to offer the vaccine?
- What regulates this is the Swedish Work Environment Authority's regulations, they weigh heavily and here there is no doubt that one should make a risk assessment and offer the protection that is possible.
In Eksjö, Nässjö and Tranås, for example, the students are not offered a vaccine against hepatitis B. But from the Aleholmsskolan in Sävsjö, from now on in the autumn, students have started offering the vaccine the care and care program.
- I think it's great that we get good conditions when we go here. Then maybe more people also choose to walk this line and it is good because more is needed, says Emilia Jonsson, who is attending the first year of education.
Are you worried about being infected by, for example, hepatitis B when working in healthcare?
- Yes absolutely.
The vaccine is taken in three doses and costs around SEK 450 per pupil. At Aleholmsskolan, there are about 20 pupils now offered to take the vaccine.
But is this really the responsibility of the schools?
- Yes, a school that organizes a nursing education with practice, they are responsible for giving the students the protection they need. And if you work when close to patients, we feel that you need protection against hepatitis B, ”says Malin Bengnér.
In the clip above, students at Aleholmsskolan in Sävsjö tell us what they think about the vaccine offering.