🚀Elevating Immunisation Training for 2025
The UKHSA’s updated National Minimum Standards and Core Curriculum for Vaccination Training, published 23 June 2025, consolidates guidance for both registered healthcare professionals (RHPs) and healthcare support workers (HCSWs) into a single comprehensive resource (gov.uk).
🎯 Why the Update Matters
- Vaccination lies at the heart of public health success—but requires confident, knowledgeable practitioners to maintain public trust .
- Frequent shifts in programmes and the rise of misinformation demand a workforce that is well-trained and agile (assets.publishing.service.gov.uk).
- Surveys confirm that healthcare workers are the most trusted communicators on vaccines—making their competence vital (assets.publishing.service.gov.uk).
👩⚕️ Who Needs Training—and at what level
Audience | Training Requirements |
|---|---|
All staff involved in any part of vaccination (from advice to administration) | Foundation training + annual updates |
New vaccinators (RHPs and delegated HCSWs) | Two-day core training, supervised practice, and a competency assessment prior to independent practice. |
| HCSWs with delegation | Same training topics as RHPs, tailored in detail to their scope. Must understand legal/clinical issues (e.g. consent, PGDs). |
| All staff | Annual refresher (minimum half-day, ideally covering new vaccines, policy changes, legal updates). |
🧠 Core Curriculum Topics
From Table Two of the document, the key knowledge domains include:
- Immunology & vaccine-preventable diseases
- COVID-19, flu, childhood, adult, travel, maternal vaccines
- Legal and ethical aspects: informed consent, PGDs, PSDs, delegation
- Cold chain management and vaccine storage
- Administration techniques
- Recognition and management of adverse reactions, especially anaphylaxis
- Safe record-keeping and audit
- Communications: addressing vaccine hesitancy, tailored patient conversations (assets.publishing.service.gov.uk)
Training must be tailored to the practitioner’s role, e.g. RHPs who will be delivering travel vaccines require further detailed training in order to complete safe travel risk assessments (assets.publishing.service.gov.uk).
🧩 Competency, Supervision & Delegation
- Supervised practice is non-negotiable—new vaccinators must be observed until competence is confirmed (assets.publishing.service.gov.uk).
- Delegation requires a clear legal framework: RHPs must ensure HCSWs are receptive, supervised, and that accountability is defined (assets.publishing.service.gov.uk).
- Competency tools (e.g., Appendix A, RCN frameworks) guide self-assessment and supervisor review (assets.publishing.service.gov.uk).
📚 Delivery and Monitoring of Training
Best practice guidance urges:
- Blended learning: e‑learning + face‑to‑face + practical work & assessments (assets.publishing.service.gov.uk).
- Two-day foundation courses for full vaccinators; one-day tailored courses for HCSWs.
- Annual updates (via half-day sessions or e-learning).
- Local training delivery by expert practitioners, embedding regional protocol nuances (assets.publishing.service.gov.uk).
- Monitoring mechanisms: audit uptake, identify gaps, and ensure protected time for training.
- Documentation: certificates support CPD, revalidation, and workforce mobility.
✅ PGDs: A Critical Link
- Only healthcare professionals with verified competency can administer vaccines under Patient Group Directions (PGDs), per MHRA and NICE (assets.publishing.service.gov.uk).
- UKHSA’s PGD templates explicitly require training in alignment with these National Standards—and anaphylaxis management, intramuscular techniques, and cold chain competence (Immunisation patient group direction (PGD) templates – GOV.UK).
🏁 Final Thoughts for Practice Leads
- Audit your team against the 2025 standards.
- Invest in robust onboarding and refresher training—especially blended, practical methods.
- Strong supervision, especially for HCSWs and new practitioners.
- Embed ongoing monitoring of training access and competencies.
- Align PGD usage with these training benchmarks to ensure full compliance and safety.
📌 In Summary:
The 2025 UKHSA standards reinforce that safe, effective immunisation hinges not just on schedules, but on well-trained, confident practitioners. These guidelines provide a clear roadmap—from foundation training through delegation, annual refresher, and competency assurance. Committing to these standards strengthens patient outcomes, public trust, and compliance with legal frameworks.