Vaccinations are given by healthcare professionals working within a variety of backgrounds, settings, and services. To increase public confidence and maintain high vaccination acceptance, those who advise on or administer vaccinations must be confident, knowledgeable, and up to date in their practice.

Our Vaccination + Immunisation 2 Day Foundation Course follows recommendations from the National Minimum Standards and Core Curriculum for Immunisation Training for Registered Healthcare Practitioners.

During the course you will acquire the knowledge and practical skills to ensure safe vaccination delivery, recognise and manage anaphylaxis shock and perform basic life support.

• Be aware of the legal aspects of immunisation
• Demonstrate how to document and report all vaccines given
• Explain the importance of consent in relation to immunisation
• Describe and demonstrate effective communication methods with patients, parents, careers and other relevant people regarding immunisation
• Be aware of current issues and controversies surrounding immunisation
• Explain the aims of immunisation
• Describe national vaccine policy and schedules
• Identify and implement strategies for improving vaccine uptake
• Explain the immune response to vaccines
• Describe how vaccines provide individual and community protection
• Describe and recognise the main features of vaccine preventable diseases and the nature and frequency of their acute and long-term complications
• Be aware of the different types of vaccine used
• Be aware of contraindications and precautions when using vaccines
• Describe complicated vaccine presentations
• Describe how to manage and report adverse events
• Describe the importance of the cold chain
• Be aware of the correct procedure for the storage and handling of vaccines
• Demonstrate how to recognise and manage anaphylaxis
• Demonstrate how to safely and effectively perform basic life support
• Describe effective communication methods with patients, parents and carers and other relevant people about immunisation
• Demonstrate how to administer vaccinations safely

Day 1 - Theory (10:30 - 17:00)

This day can be completed online prior to the practical training day OR you can attend day 1 of your training course.

Course Introduction: 10:30 - 10:45 (15 minutes)

Session 1: 10:45 - 11:30 (45 minutes)

• Legal aspects of vaccination
• Current issues and controversies regarding immunisation
• Documentation, record keeping and reporting
• Accountability, supervision and delegation
• Consent and communication with patients/ parents

Session 2: 11:30 - 12:15 (45 minutes)

• Strategies for improving immunisation rates
• Vaccine priority groups
• The immune system and how vaccines work

Session 3: 12:15 - 13:00 (45 minutes)

• Vaccine preventable diseases

Lunch break: 13:00 - 13:45 (45 minutes)

Session 4: 13:45 - 15:30 (105 minutes)

• The different types of vaccines and their composition
• Contraindications and adverse events
• Addressing complicated vaccination presentations

Session 5: 15:30 - 16:45 (75 minutes)

• Medicines management - Storage and handling of vaccines

Course summary: 16:45 - 17:00 (15 minutes)

Please note - morning and afternoon refreshment breaks will be given at a natural stopping point within a given session.

Day 2 - Practical (10:30 - 17:00)

Session 1: 10:30 - 11:00 (30 minutes)

• Recap of Day 1 (Theory)
• Questions and answers

Session 2: 11:00 - 12:30 (90 minutes)

• Vaccination administration demonstration

Session 3: 13:00 - 14:00 (60 minutes)

• Delegate practical vaccination training time

Session 4: 14:00 - 14:45 (45 minutes)

• Delegate assessments - Intramuscular and Subcutaneous injections

Session 5: 14:45 - 16:45 (120 minutes)

• Anaphylaxis recognition and management
• Basic life support demonstration and practical assessment

Course summary: 16:45 - 17:00 (15 minutes)

• Covers all core areas of vaccination allowing healthcare practitioners to deliver vaccinations safely and effectively
• Provides background knowledge to answer parents’/ patients’ questions confidently and accurately
• Delivers correct vaccination technique (sub-cutaneous (SC) and Intra-Muscular (IM)) observed by a specialist trainer
• Delegates will receive a competency framework workbook which can be used towards obtaining supervised workplace competencies