Immunisation Training for HCAs

This free* two-day foundation course is for Healthcare Assistants (HCAs) working in General Practice who have achieved or are working towards NVQ Level 3 or equivalent (e.g. A-Levels or BTech).

Continuous Professional Development: the training consists of 16 CPD hours.

*Free course for staff working at any GP practices in Wirral

The Immunisation Training for HCAs course follows the guidelines of the National Minimum Standards for immunisation training for Health Care Support Workers (2015).

The programme includes influenza, pneumococcal, shingles vaccination, intranasal (spray) for children (2-17 years) and administration of B12 injections.

During the two days you will receive a comprehensive overview of the core areas of immunisation required to deliver vaccines safely and effectively in relation to:

You will be given advice in gaining clinical competence within your own workplace and you will also gain the necessary knowledge to answer parents or patients questions confidently and accurately.

For practices, this immunisation course (also available for Practice Nurses) represents a great opportunity to reinforce public confidence in vaccines and ensure high vaccine uptake.

• Commence development of practice that fully adheres to the aims, principles and practice of the influenza, shingles and pneumococcal vaccination programmes
• Commence development of practice that fully adheres to quality and safety related to vaccination and injections
• Commence development of practice that fully adheres to the law relating to vaccination and injections

• 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
• Pernicious anaemia and how vitamin B12 injections work
• 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

Participants will be graded through a combination of formal competency assessment, supervised practice and task delegation.