Immunisation & Vaccination – Update (e-learning)

Target Audience

This training is aimed at GPs, Nurse Practitioners and Practice Nurses whose role involves administering immunisations or advising on vaccinations as part of their clinical practice.  It can also be used by Health Care Assistants and Assistant Practitioners who hold a Level 3 Qualification in Health & Social Care or equivalent, who have been nominated by their Practice Manager(with the correct insurance/indemnity) and whose role involves administering flu, pneumococcal & shingles immunisations or advising on vaccinations as part of their clinical practice.  The course provides theoretical and practical training on flu (including nasal flu), pneumococcal & shingles vaccinations.  Please note those who are new to immunising MUST complete a 2 or 3 day face to face fundamentals of immunisation course, as is set out in the ‘National Minimum Standards and Core Curriculum for Immunisation Training for Registered Healthcare Practitioners’.

Course Aim

Immunisation is a highly successful public health intervention protecting individuals across the life course and saving thousands of lives every year. To ensure ongoing public confidence in vaccines and a high vaccine uptake, it is vital that all those who advise on and/or administer immunisations are confident, knowledgeable and up to date. This e-learning programme has therefore been designed in line with the recommendations made in the Public Health England (PHE) National Minimum Standards and Core Curriculum for Immunisation Training. It comprehensively covers the core areas of immunisation with which healthcare practitioners need to be familiar to deliver immunisations safely and effectively and to answer parents’/patients’ questions confidently and accurately.

Healthcare practitioners from a wide diversity of professional backgrounds now give immunisations in many different settings and service areas, this programme has therefore been designed to be relevant to all healthcare practitioners with a role in immunisation whether they advise on or deliver immunisations. Most of the information in the programme is relevant for those involved in the immunisation programme in all the UK nations.

This programme consists of seven knowledge sessions with accompanying assessments. It is recommended that those new to immunisation complete all seven sessions. Those with prior knowledge and experience in immunisation may wish to read through the relevant knowledge sessions for refresher training or undertake the assessment sessions to check on their knowledge.  Please note to be used as the required annual update the whole course needs to be completed.

On completion of the knowledge sessions and assessments, users can print a certificate as evidence of the sessions undertaken. A period of supervised practice to allow acquisition and observation of clinical skills and application of knowledge to practice for practitioners new to immunisation is also recommended, as is the completion of an Immunisation competency checklist. As outlined above, this cannot be used as initial training for those new to immunisations and vaccinations.

Course Content

This programme consists of seven knowledge sessions with accompanying assessments.

• National Immunisation Policy and Programmes
• Immunology
• Vaccine Preventable Diseases
• Communicating with Patients, Parents & Carers
• Legal Aspects
• Vaccine Storage
• Vaccine Administration

Pre-requisites

Health Care Assistants and Assistant Practitioners who hold a Level 3 Qualification in Health & Social or equivalent, who have been nominated by their Practice manager (with the correct insurance/indemnity).

Those who are new to immunising MUST complete a 2 or 3 day face to face fundamentals of immunisation course, as is set out in the  ‘National Minimum Standards and Core Curriculum for Immunisation Training for Registered Healthcare Practitioners’.

Course Duration

This is e-learning and is variable depending on the knowledge and experience of the learner

Trainer/Facilitator

E Learning for Healthcare (E-LfH)

Date/Time/Venue

It is e-learning so can be accessed at any time.

Cost

There is no charge to access this training.

Booking Process/Additional Information

• To access this learning please follow this link – e-lfh Immunisation Course
• The Health Protection Agency recommends annual updates should be attended following completion of a basic course.  Individual CCGs may give alternative guidance regarding the frequency of attending formal updates
• Please ensure the practice has the correct insurance/indemnity cover
• All elements must be completed to count as a suitable annual update.
• NHS England recommend that were possible immunisers attend a face to face annual update. If this is not possible this e-learning can be completed but a face to face update must be undertaken as a minimum every other year.