Shingrix (Shingles) Vaccine Training for HCAs

The course will explore Herpes Zoster disease, prevalence, and risks to the individual, before discussing the vaccination in detail and the governance for safe practice. Students will have access to the relevant paperwork for practice, and a competency framework for completion in the workplace with mentor supervision.

The National Minimum Standards recommend that only experienced Health Care Support Workers (HCSW) or Health Care Assistants (HCA) take on a role in administering vaccines. It is expected that these HCSWs/HCAs will have achieved education and training to Level Three of the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) or equivalent, and that they would be working at Level Three or above of the NHS Career Framework. e.g. having completed the Level 3 Health and Social Care Diploma.  It is essential that practitioners possess the fundamental knowledge and competencies required before progressing to vaccine-specific courses and injectable treatments such as Flu, Pneumococcal, Shingrix, Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Polio. This foundational knowledge can be obtained by attending either the Core Immunisation Training for HCAs courses, or one of the Full-day Introduction to Flu courses.

Aims

In this session we will look at:

• What is Herpes Zoster?
• Why is there a Public Health vaccination program for shingles?
• Undertaking a risk assessment of the patient prior to immunisation
• Safe handling and storage of vaccination including vaccine and patient preparation
• The consultation process and procedure
• Resources to support the learning

Objectives

The objectives of this session are to:

• provide HCA with the knowledge and skills required for the procedure of administering Shingles vaccination
• provide the HCA with resources, education and awareness of the legal issues, accountability and prescribing through delegation
• provide the mechanisms for the HCA to be signed off as competent by a trained nurse in their workplace and follow the protocols and framework supplied for safe practice

Previous Delegate Feedback

“It all worked really well, the slides, explanations and class interaction.”

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