Immunisation Programmes
- PGD: provides guidance on how to administer immunisations. If authorised, you can find our PGDs on BambooHR (in the Files tab).
- PSD: in certain situations, you will need a PSD for guidance on administering immunisations to a named patient. These will be written and given to you by a prescriber.
Missed immunisations
If a patient misses their immunisation, or their course gets interrupted, make a note of this in their notes on EMIS and contact the patient to reschedule the appointment / resume the course ASAP.
You can find more info on vaccination of individuals with uncertain or incomplete immunisation status here.
See also Catch-up Vaccinations.
Travel vaccinations
For information on the travel vaccinations we provide, please visit our Travel Vaccinations page.
See the complete routine immunisation schedule here.
Requirements for Administering Vaccinations
You must perform vaccinations under supervision until signed off by a registered clinician, and be on the relevant professional register.
If an immunisation is incorrectly administered, tell a clinician and raise an SE.
Before administering an immunisation, you must make sure that you:
- have attended Infection Prevent and Control (Blue Stream Academy) Basic Life Support (every 18 months) and Anaphylaxis training (every 3 years).
- understand the 6 Right’s of Administration - right patient, right drug, right dose, right route, right time, right to refuse. 👉
- understand how vaccines prevent communicable diseases.
- understand the current National and local immunisation schedules in place.
- have checked the suitability of the patient for immunisation.
- understand any associated contraindications, specific considerations and possible side effects.
- feel confident discussing the benefits and risks of the vaccine with the patient and their family.
- know how to handle any incidents that might happen (e.g. fainting, anaphylaxis).
- understand how to properly store, transport, handle and dispose of vaccinations (as described in our Managing Vaccines & Refrigerators page).
- understand how to record notes on patient records in EMIS and the Personal Child Health Record (PCHR, aka the “red book”).
- recognise any limits to your own knowledge or skill, and ask for help when you need it.
Read the minimum standards for immunisation training for more information.