Vaccination of employees: leptospirosis

Vaccination of employees against leptospirosis should only be considered by company doctors in exceptional cases, the Health Council of the Netherlands writes in an advisory report to the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment. It would be a vaccination offer on an individual basis for employees who, in spite of protective measures to prevent exposure to urine of contaminated rodents or contaminated surface water, are still at risk of becoming ill. The available vaccine is safe, but according to the Health Council there is too little recent data to advise a general offer to certain professions.  

Leptospirosis is a collective term for syndromes, including Weil’s disease, that are caused by leptospires. These bacteria are mainly transmitted by small rodents. Professions that can come into direct contact with urine from infected rodents, or that work in surface water or a humid environment where infected rodents live, are at increased risk of leptospirosis. Therefore, protective measures apply to these professions to prevent exposure. Vaccination may also contribute to the protection of employees against illness. Since 2019, a vaccine has been available in the Netherlands for use in adults with an increased risk of exposure. However, the Health Council cannot draw a conclusion on the effectiveness of vaccination, because there is little scientific data available about the vaccine, and because that data is outdated. Therefore, the council refrains from advising on a general vaccination offer to certain professions. The company doctor can consider a vaccination offer on an individual basis for the exceptional cases in which employees, in spite of protective measures, are still at risk of leptospirosis. This is the case with, for example, some muskrat catchers.