Final answer:
Employers are required to offer a free Hepatitis B vaccine to protect nursing assistants from infection. The vaccine helps prevent the spread of HBV in healthcare settings and is particularly important for those in high-risk environments.
Step-by-step explanation:
Employers must offer a free vaccine to protect nursing assistants from Hepatitis B (HBV). HBV was once a prevalent on-the-job hazard for health-care workers, including nursing assistants who are frequently in contact with individuals who have chronic infections or are at higher risk of needle-stick injuries. In 1982, the CDC recommended that health-care workers, including those working in high-risk environments such as those with drug addicts and professions like phlebotomists and dentists, be vaccinated against HBV, leading to a decline in infection rates. Vaccination is vital in protecting nursing assistants and other healthcare professionals from HBV, even though the vaccine may not always be effective and not everyone is vaccinated. It is important for employers to protect nursing assistants as they perform tasks that put them at higher risk for contracting infectious diseases. Vaccination programs are critical in healthcare settings to maintain a healthy workforce and to prevent the spread of illnesses to vulnerable populations, including patients.