Immunisation Training for Registered Professionals
In order to ensure the ongoing delivery of a high quality, safe and effective immunisation programme that achieves high uptake, it is important that all practitioners involved in immunisation have a high level of knowledge and are confident in immunisation policy and procedures. To gain this, they need to receive comprehensive foundation training, regular updates, supervision and support.
The National Minimum Standards and Core Curriculum for Immunisation Training for Registered Healthcare Practitioners (2018)
This document
sets out a recommended minimum framework for training to meet the needs of all registered healthcare practitioners with a role in immunisation and includes a competency assessment tool.
For practitioners new to Immunisations there is the option of virtual ‘face to face training’- see Eventbrite
here
or e-learning modules
here
. Both training routes need to be followed up with a period of supervised practice and competency assessments. The competency assessment tool is provided on pages 24, 25 and 26 in the above documentThe following modules and assessments are to be completed if using the e-learning route:
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National Immunisation and Policy Programme
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Immunology
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Vaccine preventable diseases
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Communicating with patients, patients and carers
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Legal aspects
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Vaccine Storage
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Vaccine administration
The below areas of knowledge are to be completed in the practice/PCN.
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Anaphylaxis and adverse reactions and BLS
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Documentation, record keeping and reporting
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Strategies for optimising immunisation uptake
How to use the competency assessment tool
Healthcare practitioner
Those administering immunisations should be assessed against all competencies, except where the practitioner is only required to use specific administration techniques, for example if they are only giving the intranasal influenza vaccine or intradermal Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine.
To complete the self-assessment column as part of the formative assessment. Work with your mentor discussing any areas that identified as ‘need to improve’.
The final assessment
your mentor assessing the practitioner must be a registered healthcare practitioner who is competent and experienced in delivering immunisation programmes. The mentor does not have to have a teaching qualification but does require the key skills in assessment.
Immunisation Training for Health Care Support Workers/Health Care Assistants
There is now greater recognition that HCAs can be a valuable addition to teams delivering vaccination programmes. The decision to involve HCAs in vaccine administration needs careful consideration and appropriate mechanisms in place for prescribing, delegation, accountability and supervision in order that vaccine administration is safe and effective. All immunisers must be confident, competent and well supported to ensure public confidence in vaccination is maintained. Delegation of immunisation must be both appropriate and in the best interests of the patient and the provider organisation.
The National Standards for HCAs and Assistant practitioners (2015)
This document addresses the minimum standards of training for HCAs who administer influenza, shingles and pneumococcal vaccinations to adults, and intranasal influenza vaccine to children only.
The guidance states that only HCAs who have achieved education and training to Level 3 or equivalent with at least 2yrs experience as an HCA can be considered for training in vaccine administration.
Page 9 outlines the core areas of knowledge for HCAs. The training hub will provide Foundation Training for HCAs- see Eventbrite
here. All training needs to be followed up with a period of supervised practice and assessments of clinical competency in the practice.
Supervision
HCAs involved in immunisation services must have an identified supervisor and ongoing supervision by a registered, appropriately trained, experienced and knowledgeable practitioner in immunisation.
Immunisation Information for Clinical Pharmacists
The
National Minimum Standards and Core Curriculum for Immunisation Training for Registered Healthcare Practitioners
document sets the standards and lists the essential topics which should be incorporated into immunisation training for registered healthcare practitioners. Pharmacists who will provide the Vaccination Service must have completed practical training in vaccination that meets these requirements. With regards to local providers of such training, practices may already be familiar with ones that their nurses attend.
NHS England and NHS Improvement has determined that pharmacists providing a Vaccination Service need to attend face-to-face training for both injection technique and basic life support (including administration of adrenaline) at least every three years. Injection Technique training is to be completed in the practice.
Please also note that if the pharmacists will be vaccinating under the PGD produced by PHE, then they will need to demonstrate competency in working under a PGD. NHSE have a PGD online training package –
Patient Group Directions
(an e-learning resource for those considering, developing, authorising and using Patient Group Directions)
Flu Immunisation Training
Public Health England South East Screening & Immunisation information
Updates to the Flu Immunisation e-learning programme for the 2023/24 flu season
The
elfh Flu Immunisation e-learning resource
is designed to provide all healthcare practitioners involved in delivering the national flu immunisation programme with the knowledge they need to confidently promote high uptake of flu vaccination and administer the flu vaccines to those who need them.
Flu immunisation training recommendations appendix
Covid-19 Immunisation training
All training for vaccination staff is online and can be accessed via the NHSE e-learning for healthcare staff site (NHSE elfh Hub (e-lfh.org.uk).
Those staff administering Covid-19 vaccine do not necessarily need to have clinical experience, however after they have completed the mandatory NHSE e-learning, they will need to be signed off by a senior, trained RHCP. This is down to the vaccination site to organise.
Note: Even if staff are familiar with administering the influenza vaccine, they would still need to complete the Covid-19 online training and obtain sign-off.
Maintaining knowledge and competency (Annual Updates)
It is recommended that all immunisers have annual updates (Page 16 of the guidance outline what is required to be covered). This can be carried out through completing the relevant
e-learning modules
, completing the assessment and downloading the certificate.
Online Resources
Flu 2022/23
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elfh Flu Programme
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The National Flu Immunisation Programme Plan 2022-23 update letter
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Public Health England Annual Flu Programme
- Many useful resources including patient information leaflets. New resources are added regularly
Immunisations in general
e-Lfh
e-Lfh
COVID-19 Vaccination
Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH)
Vaccines in practice - online learning
RCGP Learning
COVID-19 vaccination programme
