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Immunisation Guidance
Good vaccines are only good if the vaccinator is good
NEW! Arrived June 2025
These are the standards to meet if you are going to be an immuniser. Can also be found here.
PGD guidance
These are the standards to meet if you are working under PGD
Time for a quality check anyone?
NEW! Arrived June 2025
Anaphylaxis Guidance
Don't be caught out here. You will definitely be glad you know this stuff if an anaphylaxis occurs.
More Non-registrant Guidance
What does the RCN support HCA's to administer? About time it got reconsidered since RSV and COVID-19 vaccines came along IMHO...
Expectations of the role in immunising.
Nursing Associates
*TIP! There are additional NICE competencies for people working under PGD! And have you seen the ELFHC PGD course developed in January 2022?
Rabies Post Exposure Guidance
Don't wait to read this until a Friday near end of the day when someone tells you they were bitten by a kitten in Turkey!
UK National Immunisation Schedule
The cheat sheet that gets us through the day.
The other cheat sheet that gets us through the day.
The uncertain or incomplete vaccination algorithm
*TIP! Did you know EVERY GOV.UK page has an option to sign up for email alerts? Look out for this icon --->
Useful government slidesets
There's a lot of people out there who haven't had their vaccines. And a lot of reasons for it.
Very interesting and revealing set of numbers in here: Routine childhood immunisation: deaths and hospitalisations prevented. Estimated annual deaths and hospitalisations prevented by routine childhood immunisation in England. Need a quick summary?: It's LOADS.
Vaccine Update
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We all make mistakes
It's how you deal with them and learn from them that counts.
June 2024 greeted us with this useful tool for checking stability after cold chain breaches.
The Immunisation Equity Strategy sets out actions to be taken by the UKHSA to support local actors in addressing immunisation inequities in the period 2025 to 2030.
The strategy sets out how UKHSA will work with their partners over the next 5 years to ensure that:
there is more accountable system leadership on immunisation inequities
access to timely, high-quality data on immunisation is improved for all relevant stakeholders to enhance policy, strategy and delivery activities
practitioners and policymakers are better able to generate, share and use evidence to promote immunisation equity
people- and place-based approaches to communication and engagement around immunisation with different communities and professional groups embedded in ways of working at all levels
Useful information regarding legal mechanisms and professional boundaries
Working under PSD’s – useful guidance https://www.rcn.org.uk/clinical-topics/Medicines-management/Patient-specific-directions-and-patient-group-directions and https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/questions-about-patient-specific-directions-psd/
Useful update on legal mechanisms from SPS: WEBINAR RECORDING What’s new in medicines mechanisms and governance PGDs (MAY 2025)
SPS also have a good video series:
Occupational health services explainer videos: 16 July 2024 · Short videos explaining medicines mechanisms in occupational health services, including written instructions.
PGD planning explainer videos: 1 May 2024 · Short videos explaining how to plan for the development of new, or review of existing Patient Group Directions (PGDs).
PGD supply and administration explainer videos: 1 May 2024 · Short explanatory videos about the supply and administration of medicines under Patient Group Directions (PGDs).
PGDs in practice explainer videos: 1 May 2024 · Short videos explaining Patient Group Directions (PGDs) and medicines mechanisms, and their use in practice.
Occupational Health resources https://www.fohn.org.uk/oh-nurses-resources/#1538343639286-ab5f8c68-6959
General Practice Assistant resources and e-learning (free!) https://www.e-lfh.org.uk/programmes/general-practice-assistant/
This is a very useful article for de-mystifying the legal mechanisms around giving a vaccine - strongly recommended if you’re a bit confused by it all https://www.practicenursing.com/content/vaccines/best-practice-for-medicines-management-and-vaccination/
This one also helps make sense of things (pre flu protocol though) https://www.mddus.com/resources/resource-library/risk-alerts/2017/september/confusion-over-administering-flu-jabs
Accountability and Delegation information (applicable to all roles in the nursing team and all health and care settings.) https://www.rcn.org.uk/Professional-Development/Accountability-and-delegation
PGD's and pharmacy technicians (June 2024) https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/pharmacy-technicians-working-under-patient-group-directions/
CQC mythbusters: https://www.cqc.org.uk/guidance-providers/gps/gp-mythbusters EXCELLENT resource, especially when planning for inspections!!
Can nurses work in a vaccination setting without a doctor on site?
Ten reasons to do an immunisation update
Delegation of Injections: When Is It Appropriate and What are the Risks?
Consent: an important topic!
Here's a selection of useful links and resources to help you determine who should do what in practice ...
"Can HCA's really not consent for vaccines?"
A reflection based on the new (June 2025) National Minimum Standards that says:
“it is outside the scope of practice of a HCSW to undertake a clinical assessment for vaccination, take informed consent or work to Patient Group Directions (PGDs)."
For specific vaccine information visit the vaccine portal
