Vaccination and injection technique training for healthcare support workers (HCSW)
Format
Face to face or Virtual
Number of participants
Duration
One or Two days
Course overview
This course is developed in line with National Minimum Standards and Core Curriculum for Vaccination Training UKHSA_National_Minimum_Standards_for_immunisation_training_2025.pdf
Content includes:
- The aims of vaccination, national vaccine policy and schedules
- The immune response to vaccines and how vaccines work
- Vaccine preventable diseases
- The different types of vaccines, their composition and their indications and contraindications (focus on Pneumococcal, Shingles, Influenza and RSV)
- Current issues in vaccination
- Communicating with patients, parents and carers about vaccines
- Legal issues as applied to vaccination: consent and legal mechanisms to supply and administer vaccines
- Storage and handling of vaccines
- Correct administration of vaccines
- Anaphylaxis, basic life support and adverse reactions (Pre-course requirements)
- Documentation, record keeping and reporting
- Strategies for optimising vaccination uptake
- The role of the HCSW as a vaccinator (including role limitations and the role of others in vaccination) and support required (including supervision, mentorship and reflection)
- Practical demonstrations of injection technique including role plays to assist with learning
Format
Two days face-to-face delivered locally in Tower Hamlets OR one-day online, which includes self-directed e-learning as part of this day plus one day face to face
Learning outcomes
- Ensure practice is safe andeffective
- Provide accurate andup-to-date information about the relevant diseases and vaccines to individualsor their parents / carers
- Support individuals to makeinformed decisions about vaccination
- Follow correct guidelines toobtain patients informed consent
- Promote public confidence invaccination
- Improve the uptake ofvaccination
- Access and follow therecommendations detailed in the online version of ‘Vaccination againstInfectious Disease’ (the ‘Green Book’) and communications from DHSC, UKHSA orNHS England
- Demonstrate an understandingof their role and its limitations, and of the legal and professionalresponsibilities regarding delegation and accountability, for all staffinvolved
- Know when and how to requestadvice if required - for HCSWs this must be from a RHCP colleague
- Give a consistently safe andhigh standard of care
- Demonstrate competence in vaccine storage,administration and recording
- Demonstrate competence inrecognition and management of anaphylaxis and basic life support (pre-courselearning)
- Demonstrate an understandingof appropriate management of adverse reactions.
Who should attend
It is recommended that only experienced HCSWs take on a role in administering vaccines.
Cost per session
Pre-training requirement
Please complete the online learning or provide evidence of annual Anaphylaxis and BLS training. For those candidates planning to deliver Influenza, Pneumococcal, RSV, Shingles vaccines you need to complete the appropriate module from: https://portal.e-lfh.org.uk/ Documented Mentor in practice who is a registered health care professional and is experienced in vaccination has the final responsibility sign off the competencies before practical work can begin.
