Immunisations
Registered staff and Healthcare Support Workers are able to give flu vaccines, the training pathways are slightly different.
Please note, students, apprentices, nursing associates, physician associates and health care assistants cannot work under a PGD (see additional information below regarding PGDs and PSDs.)
Training
For Registered Professionals, a 2-day face to face training course (Introduction to Immunisations and Vaccinations for HCPs) should be undertaken for those new to immunisation. This provides the theory and practice of routine childhood and adult immunisation and vaccination. Following the foundation course, a period of supervised practice should be undertaken, and competency assessment completed within the practice. In subsequent years, an annual review is necessary (HCP Adult and Flu Vaccine Update).
Some course dates for both courses are provided by the Training Hub and available from the Training Hub events calendar.
For Healthcare Support Workers, a course: B12, Flu, Pneumococcal and Shingles Training for experienced HCSWs is available. Delegates must be level 3 qualified with a minimum of 2 years’ experience as an HCSW. This course is aimed at those new to immunising and meets the UKHSA National Minimum Standards and Core Curriculum for Immunisation Training of Healthcare Support Workers (2015) and will be delivered through one full day webinar and one full day face to face session.
Following the foundation course, a period of supervised practice should be undertaken, and competency assessment completed within the practice.
Ongoing continuing professional development is necessary and annual updates are necessary. (Updates are available from the Training Hub)
Some course dates are provided by the Training Hub and available from the Training Hub events calendar.
e-Learning Flu Immunisation
Face-to-face foundation courses are recommended but if this is not available, or in extenuating circumstances, staff can undertake E-learning for health courses which can be accessed NHSE elfh Hub or to reach the right sessions quickly, once logged in to e-learning for Health, insert FLU in the search bar.
The Flu Immunisation e-learning programme covers the core areas of immunisation with which healthcare practitioners need to be familiar to deliver the flu vaccinations safely and effectively. For the purposes of an annual refresher, please also complete any relevant sessions within the Immunisation Programme.
The Flu Immunisation programme consists of three knowledge sessions with accompanying assessments.
These sessions are:
- Core Knowledge (FLU)
- Inactivated Flu Vaccinations (FLU)
- Live Flu Vaccine (FLU)
On completion of the knowledge sessions and assessments, users can print a certificate as evidence of the sessions undertaken.
e-Learning Immunisation
Face-to-face foundation courses are recommended but if this is not available, or in extenuating circumstances, staff can undertake E-learning for health courses which can be accessed; e-lfh Immunisations (To reach the right sessions quickly, once logged in to e-learning for Health, put IMM in the search bar.)
This e-LfH immunisation programme has been designed in line with the recommendations made in the Public Health England (PHE) National Minimum Standards and Core Curriculum for Immunisation Training. It comprehensively covers the core areas of immunisation with which healthcare practitioners need to be familiar to deliver immunisations safely and effectively and to answer parents’/patients’ questions confidently and accurately.
The programme consists of seven knowledge sessions with accompanying assessments.
These sessions are:
- National Immunisation Policy and Programmes (IMM)
- Immunology (IMM)
- Vaccine Preventable Diseases (IMM)
- Communicating with Patients, Parents & Carers (IMM)
- Legal Aspects (IMM)
- Vaccine Storage (IMM)
- Vaccine Administration (IMM)
It is recommended that those new to immunisation complete all seven sessions. Those with prior knowledge and experience in immunisation may wish to read through the relevant knowledge sessions for refresher training or undertake the assessment sessions to check on their knowledge. Learners may also wish to only undertake the sessions relevant to their role.
On completion of the knowledge sessions and assessments, users can print a certificate as evidence of the sessions undertaken. A period of supervised practice should be undertaken, and competency assessment completed within the practice as is the completion of an immunisation competency checklist.