Immunisations – NHS National vaccination programme
Contents:
· Introduction
· Initial training and supervised practice
· LINK to Initial training for registered practitioners new to childhood immunisations
· Useful links to immunisation information
· Continuous professional development (CPD)
· LINK to CPD Training
· Information from the NHS East of England Vaccination webpage:
Introduction
Registered healthcare practitioners who advise on and/or administers immunisations must have received specific relevant foundation training and have been assessed as competent by a registered practitioner who is experienced, up to date and competent in immunisation. They should only administer or advise on immunisations if they feel competent to do so.
Initial training and supervised practice
Those new to immunisation should receive comprehensive foundation immunisation training, either through an in -person taught course or a blended approach of both e-learning and a face to face taught course.
New immunisers must also have a period of supervised practice and support with a registered healthcare practitioner who is experienced, up to date and competent in immunisation.
Both knowledge and clinical competence should be assessed before new immunisers start to give and/or advise about vaccines.
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. The document includes a useful competency check list in the appendix.
Immunisation Training standards; Immunisation training standards for healthcare practitioners - GOV.UK
LINK to Initial training for registered practitioners new to childhood immunisations:
Immunisation Training for Nurses and Allied Health Professionals - M&K
Useful links to immunisation information:
· Childhood immunisation schedules; Immunisation - GOV.UK
· Immunisation information; Immunisation - GOV.UK
· Immunisation against infectious diseases - The Green Book; Immunisation against infectious disease - GOV.UK
· Vaccination newsletter for health care professionals; Vaccine update - GOV.UK
Continuous professional development (CPD)
CPD is essential, it builds on registered professionals competence to have a direct impact on the care they give. As a minimum, annual CPD should be undertaken. More frequent CPD may be required if substantial changes to programmes or policies are made, or new vaccines are introduced.
To include all necessary information, update training is likely to need a minimum of half a day for those delivering the routine national immunisation schedule. (Reference Page 10)
CPD Training LINK; Immunisations Training Sessions - NHSE
Useful Information from the NHS East of England Vaccination webpage:
· Vaccine and cold chain incident management