2-Day Introduction to Immunisation & Vaccination (HCA/HCSW)

Course Content:-

This course is designed for healthcare professionals including HCA/HCSWs, Pharmacy Technicians, Physician Associates (Assistant) and Assistant Practitioners providing flu, covid-19, pneumococcal, shingles and RSV vaccines.

The course follows the curriculum set out in the ‘National Minimum Standards and Core Curriculum for Vaccination Training’ document (UKHSA June 2025) Information and recommendations follow guidance from the UK Health Security Agency’s (UKHSA) online publication ‘Immunisation Against Infectious Disease’ (‘The Green Book’) 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.

Modules from the NHS e-learningforhealthcare site will be discussed and recommended during the course and immunisers are expected to complete these before practicing immunisation.

Please be aware to be eligible for this training delegates MUST be level 3 qualified with a minimum of 2 years’ experience as an HCSW.

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) or Vaccine Group Directions (VGDs)
• 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

• An introduction to ‘The Green Book’ (‘Immunisation Against Infectious disease’) and ‘Vaccine Update’ Immunisation resources for patients and parents/carers
• Addressing Vaccine Hesitancy Consideration of strategies to improve uptake of immunisations in the UK

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