Hepatitis B vaccination policies for student healthcare workers in Europe.

Student healthcare workers represent a particular risk group for hepatitis B virus (HBV) transmission and should be vaccinated as early as possible after the start of their career. An overview of specific HBV policies in European Union countries was conducted through a cross-sectional survey. Answers were received from 17 countries. HBV vaccination was mandatory for medical students and student nurses in five countries and recommended in nine. Pre-vaccination testing was done in five countries and serotesting after vaccination in 12 countries. Policies to ensure student healthcare workers' immunity against HBV should be diverse due to different policies regarding universal HBV vaccination.