Good Morning!
As the new course for OH technicians starts, the question of technicians (or Health care support workers HCSW) and vaccination is likely to raise its head so I need to prepare and again the more I think about the subject the more questions I have.
I am interested in legality, practice and guidance both in the public and private sector....please feel free to mail me off list as all responses are for my info so I can pull together "current practice" and I am aware it can be a contentious subject and strong opinions held= essentially I need to write a session which incorporates "vaccination" later in the course - all info received will be anonymous.
It is not an area I have had to explore but interest is rising year on year from OH professionals, my experience was qualified nurses vaccinating and Drs prescribing within an NHS setting and I know that these days some OH nurses prescribe and HCSW in some areas of nursing practice vaccinate... so would like to update myself on current practice to research further in the real OH world.
I know there is HPA guidance and recommendations on HCSW giving flu and pneumococcal vaccines. I suspect that this came from the need to give vaccine quickly to the masses (happy to be corrected) which some consider is different to a hep b vaccine for workplace protection or typhoid for work related travel.
I have looked at the archives but sadly subject lines do not always help in the search. Diane has kindly provided me with some information and I wish to explore opinions too.
I am interested in current practice across all OH services whether NHS/public sector/independent OHN/OH provider of any size....both nurse and dr led.
who prescribes?
who administers and why? (flu/Hep B/BCG/travel vacs +/- anti malarials)
what training have they had -in house/external?
does this differ between dr/nurse led services?
Those who work/have worked for larger OH providers/agencies- do technicians vaccinate? how was this decision reached?
As an OH nurse/practitioner would you be happy to delegate this task? what would you be happy to delegate - pre vaccine questions/advice/vaccine administration?
I am aware there may be expectations of employees to be vaccinated by a qualified nurse...
those who subscribe who are not nurses... would you be happy to be vaccinated by a technician as opposed to a registered nurse? rationale for this choice..
Technicians- would you be happy to vaccinate?
Sharing of policy/procedure would also be much appreciated and again be held in confidence.
Told you...more questions appear the more I think about it-I would be happy to hear personal opinions (again off list - to preserve anonymity if preferred)
please reply to [log in to unmask] for off list responses.
in anticipation
Jacqui
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