Face-to-face training now mandatory for all flu vaccinators, says PSNC

The Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC) has notified that it is now mandatory to attend face-to-face training for both injection technique and basic life support training periodically for pharmacists and other vaccinators providing the annual flu vaccination service.

“Community pharmacy contractors are required to demonstrate that all vaccinators, including pharmacists, providing the flu vaccination service in their pharmacy have the skills needed to do so,” said PSNC.

Prior to this change, pharmacists and other vaccinators needed to undertake a refresher face-to-face training for both injection technique and basic life support, including administration of adrenaline, every three years.

Vaccinator needs to evidence competence  

PSNC said:  “Contractors and vaccinators will now need to consider when it would be appropriate to attend refresher training or if ongoing competence of an individual vaccinator can be evidenced, without the need for face-to-face training.

“An individual’s continued competence may be influenced by their prior experience vaccinating patients, including the overall number of vaccines administered and the regularity with which they administer vaccines.”

The Declaration of Competence (DoC) approach, using the Vaccination Services DoC (hosted on the Centre for Pharmacy Postgraduate Education website), had previously been the only way in which pharmacists providing the service could demonstrate their competence to the contractor.

However, this year, NHS England and PSNC have agreed on an alternative option to assure the competence of any vaccinators including pharmacists. The Flu vaccinator competency assessment tool, developed by the UK Health Security Agency, can now be used. It can be used as a self-assessment tool, an assessment tool for use with a supervisor or both depending on the previous experience of the vaccinator.