Immunisation Two-Day Course for Healthcare Support Workers

This 2-day course is suitable for staff who will be providing immunisations under Patient Specific Directions (PSDs) such as healthcare assistants (HCAs), assistant practitioners (Nursing Associate, Physician/GP Assistant) Pharmacy Technicians or other primary care support workers providing flu, covid-19, pneumococcal and shingles vaccines. Content may also be useful for those providing information and advice or supporting the delivery of vaccination programmes such as managers of the above groups.

It follows the curriculum set out in the ‘National Minimum Standards and Core Curriculum for Vaccination Training’ document (UKHSA June 2025) and includes the relevant parts of UKHSA document ‘Training Recommendations for Covid 19 Vaccinators’ (Nov 2024) Since September 2024 Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccine for elderly patients has also been included.

Written and oral assessment takes place at the end of the second day, to ensure a satisfactory level of theoretical knowledge has been achieved. Delegates are then required to complete supervised practice with an appropriate senior immuniser in their workplace until all immunisation competencies have been demonstrated to a satisfactory level and signed off by the person supervising.

Course Description

Course content includes:

The immune system

Basics of how the immune system functions

How vaccines work

Adverse reactions including Anaphylaxis awareness

 

Vaccine policy

How UK policy is produced and implemented

Current policy for Flu, Pneumococcal, Covid-19, Shingles and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccines

Importance of taking a full immunisation history 

 

 

Legal Issues

Obtaining consent for immunisations 

Providing vaccines under Patient Specific Directives (PSDs)

Documentation

 

Vaccine storage
Understanding how to store vaccines safely to prevent wastage

Administration of vaccines

Checking identity and excluding contra-indications.

Practical skills including intramuscular injection technique and administration of nasal flu vaccine to children

Actions to take if contra-indications exist

 Finding and using Resources

The Green Book ‘Immunisation Against Infectious disease’ and ‘Vaccine Update’
Immunisation resources for patients and parents

Addressing Vaccine Hesitancy

Consideration of strategies to improve uptake of immunisations in the UK

 

The course does not include vaccines which are only given under Patient Group Directions (PGDs) which includes routine children’s immunisations (except nasal flu vaccines), travel, ante-natal or other vaccines.