The Leeds Health and Care Academy has played a vital role in the city’s COVID-19 Vaccination Programme. Working alongside our partners in Leeds, we have worked at pace to support the recruitment and training of the vaccinator workforce.
As part of this, we worked together to coordinate, develop and source essential training materials for vaccinators. These training documents are relevant for experienced vaccinators, new vaccinators and vaccination support staff who were deployed to deliver the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme across Leeds and West Yorkshire. Please find links to various training materials below.
National guidance & resources
- National NHS protocols for COVID-19 vaccinations: Coronavirus » National Protocols for COVID-19 vaccines (england.nhs.uk)
- Government documentation related to COVID-19 vaccinations: COVID-19 vaccination programme – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Training requirements
The table below summarises the training recommendations for all staff working on the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme. Full guidance can be found on the government website.
E-learning covering immunisation, COVID-19 and mandatory training modules is available on e-lfh. Face to face elements including basic life support and competency assessment will be arranged locally.
Previously trained staff who have vaccinated within the last 12 months should refresh their knowledge by completing the recommended e-learning modules, ensure up-to-date basic life support and anaphylaxis training, and undertake the competency assessment in practice.
Remaining up to date
In addition to the training recommendations, COVID-19 vaccinators should remain up to date with the latest relevant information available about the COVID-19 vaccination programme. Vaccinators should regularly check and read the most recent versions of the following publications:
- Green Book COVID-19 chapter
- Patient Group Directions and protocols for the COVID-19 vaccines
- Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) statements
- The Regulation 174 Information for Healthcare Professionals document (or summary of product characteristics) for the vaccine they are using
- Standard operating procedures for the vaccine they are using
- Any relevant letters or information materials from Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), NHS England and Improvement, UKHSA, the Royal Colleges and specialist organisations
- UKHSA’s information for healthcare practitioners document
- The monthly UKHSA publication Vaccine update (relevant sections)
- Guidance published on the UKHSA COVID-19 vaccination programme webpage including specific guidance on risk groups and side effects and familiarise themselves with the information resources available
Webinar: Building vaccine and screening confidence
The primary objective of the Autumn booster programme this year will be to increase protection against severe COVID-19 disease for those at higher risk. In addition there is an added need to address the inequalities in uptake of flu vaccination.
The Yorkshire & Humber Public Health Network and Health Education England Yorkshire & Humber are facilitating a number of 90 minute workshops between the 12th September 2022 and 10th January 2023 to provide some key skills training which will cover:
- How can we work together to build vaccine confidence, what we know and how this links to health inequality.
- Core skills and processes (OARS, Evoke-Provide-Evoke, Decisional Balance, and the 3As).
- Skills practice – building confidence in the vaccine.
- Resources that staff can use to respond to questions and concerns.
The session will be interactive and include modelled conversations that showcase the core skills and processes being used, and the application of this work can be far-reaching.
Find out more and book your place: Y&H Webinar: Building Vaccine and Screening Confidence Training Programme (yhphnetwork.co.uk)
