National guidelines recommend that only HCAs who have achieved education and training in healthcare to Level Three of the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) or equivalent, with at least two years experience as an HCA should be considered for training in vaccine administration.

HCAs will have to provide proof of qualification with their application when the online application is completed. Your place cannot be confirmed until this information is supplied.

This course is designed to enable HCAs in general practice to obtain the knowledge and skills they need to administer flu, pneumonia and shingles vaccines to adults, nasal flu to children and B12 injections to adults

The course consists of 2 face to face study days, followed by a period of supervised practice with a nurse mentor.

Competency is assessed by:

• a multiple choice/short answer test after the theory session
• a formal competency assessment by the nurse mentor in practice.

The course content is based on the guidelines 'National Minimum Standards and Core Curriculum for Immunisation Training of Healthcare Support Workers' (Public Health England 2015)

Course content:

• Legal issues and the role of the HCA in immunisation
• The immune system
• Types of vaccine and how they work
• Contraindications to immunisation
• An overview of flu, pneumonia, shingles, pernicious anaemia
• Injection technique including a practical session
• Administration of nasal flu
• Storage and handling of vaccines
• Anaphylaxis and adverse reactions
• Patient Specific Directions
• Documentation, record keeping and reporting