Vaccination Training for Non Nursing Health Care Personnel

Thursday 11 August 2022 - Friday 12 August 2022

A two-day Immunisation Training Course for Healthcare Support Workers/Healthcare Assistants (HCSWs/HCAs). This foundation course adheres to the National Minimum Standards for Immunisation Training (2015) and includes flu, pneumococcal, shingles vaccination and intranasal (spray) influenza for children (2-17 years. The first day is taught online via Teams, the second is face to face in the skills laboratory which also teaches injection technique.

Course Description

To begin development of skills in practice that fully adheres to the aims, principles and practice of the influenza, shingles, and pneumococcal vaccination programmes.

All students will have a competency booklet to complete supported by a mentor in practice prior to confirmation of training with a certificate. In England and Wales, the National Minimum Standards (PHE, 2015) advise that only those HCSWs with at least two years’ experience or a minimum level of overall education and training in health care should be considered for training in vaccine administration. For example, a level three NVQ(or equivalent) or the role of the Health Care Assistant in the Community level 3 module.
To develop practice that fully adheres to quality and safety related to vaccination and injections techniques. Commence development of practice that fully adheres to the law relating to vaccination and injections.Learning outcomes:

COURSE TOPICS

• Infectious diseases and the immune system
• Seasonal influenza, pneumococcal disease and shingles
• Pandemic influenza, swine flu and avian flu
• Viruses and bacteria
• How antivirals, antibiotics and vaccines work
• How vaccines provide individual and herd immunity
• At risk groups and their eligibility for vaccines
• Communication: what advice to give to patients and families
• Administration of vaccines and injections
• Side effects, contraindications and precautions
• The anatomy of injection site
• Correct administration techniques for intramuscular, subcutaneous and intranasal vaccination
• Practical injection sessions
• Storage and handling of vaccine and correct waste disposal
• Allergy, anaphylaxis and adverse events
• Anaphylaxis management and the requirement for BLS training
• Legal, professional and indemnity requirements regarding administration of prescription only             medications by HCSWs
• Legal requirements regarding consent, documentation and confidentiality
• Competence: assessment, supervised practice and delegation