Introduction to Immunisation and Injection Technique - HCA's and AHP's UK

This comprehensive two-day training course is designed around the vaccines that non-registered healthcare workers can administer under PSD.

The course adheres to the National Minimum Standards for Immunisation Training and includes flu, pneumococcal, shingles vaccination and intranasal (spray) influenza for children (2-17 years), and also includes the administration of B12 injections, and an overview of the COVID-19 vaccination programme.

Participants are provided with advice in gaining clinical competence within their own workplace.

This course is suitable for anyone who is required to immunise as part of their role and is not a current registrant. This includes Healthcare Support Workers/Healthcare Assistants (HCSW’s/HCA’s) and Allied Healthcare Professionals such as Nursing/Physician Associates and Ph*rm*cy Technicians.

This course can be taken by complete beginners to the field of immunising or as a refresher for those who need an update after a gap.

This course is also useful for anyone involved in procurement, managing operational aspects of practice such as appointment timings, or medical equipment management and storage as it covers a lot of rationales and processes involved.

The course content and criteria is based on the guidance for the minimum training standards for immunisers which are listed:

• The aims of the current influenza, shingles and pneumococcal vaccine policy
• The immune response to influenza, shingles and pneumococcal vaccines and how they work
• Vaccine preventable diseases – influenza, shingles and pneumococcal disease
• The different types of vaccines, their composition and the indications and contraindications for influenza, shingles and pneumococcal vaccines
• Current issues relating to influenza, shingles and pneumococcal vaccines
• Communication with patients and parents about influenza, shingles and pneumococcal vaccines
• Legal issues including consent and use of Patient Specific Directions (PSDs) and Patient Group Directions (PGDs)
• Storage and handling of vaccines
• Correct administration of vaccines
• Anaphylaxis and adverse reactions
• Documentation, record keeping and reporting
• Strategies for the effective organisation of vaccination sessions and increasing uptake locally
• The role of the HCSW as an immuniser
• Support for the HCSW – a chance to ask questions and work out the next steps in practice

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immunisation-training-of-healthcare-support-workers-national-minimum-standards-and-core-curriculum

The aim of HCSW Standards for Immunisation Training is to ensure that all HCSWs engaging in any aspect of immunisation are trained in order to:

• ensure that their practice is safe and effective
  
• give a high standard of care
  
• be able to provide accurate and up to date information about the relevant diseases and vaccines to their patients
  
• demonstrate competence in administration and recording of influenza, shingles and/or pneumococcal vaccinations
  
• demonstrate competence in recognition and management of anaphylaxis and basic life support
  
• demonstrate an understanding of appropriate management of adverse reactions
  
• demonstrate an understanding of their role and its limitations
  
• be able to refer to a registered healthcare professional where further information is required for the patient’s needs

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