The FECA does not authorize payment for preventive measures such as
vaccines and inoculations, and in general, preventive treatment may be a
responsibility of the employing agency under the provisions of 5 U.S.C.
7901
(see Sec. 10.303). However, OWCP can authorize treatment for the
following conditions, even though such treatment is designed, in part,
to prevent further injury:
(a) Complications of preventive measures which are provided or
sponsored by the agency, such as an adverse reaction to prophylactic
immunization.
(b) Actual or probable exposure to a known contaminant due to an
injury, thereby requiring disease-specific measures against infection.
Examples include the provision of tetanus antitoxin or booster toxoid
injections for puncture wounds; administration of rabies vaccine for a
bite from a rabid or potentially rabid animal; or appropriate measures
where exposure to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has occurred.
(c) Conversion of tuberculin reaction from negative to positive
following exposure to tuberculosis in the performance of duty. In this
situation, the appropriate therapy may be authorized.
(d) Where injury to one eye has resulted in loss of vision, periodic
examination of the uninjured eye to detect possible sympathetic
involvement of the uninjured eye at an early stage.
