As you undoubtedly already know, the COVID-19 pandemic has been one of the greatest public health emergencies in the history of the NHS. The NHS is now looking for individuals who are willing to join the COVID-19 vaccinating team. It is vital that the COVID-19 vaccinator workforce receives comprehensive training and competency assessment so those who receive this vaccine are protected, and public confidence in the vaccine is established and maintained. There are several recommendations for training a workforce who are knowledgeable and able to deliver the COVID-19 vaccine programme confidently, competently, and safely at pace.

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I’m sure many of you are wondering how to get involved so here is a blog post aiming to answer your questions about becoming a COVID-19 vaccinator.

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Where to apply to become a COVID-19 vaccinator?

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• Ask your local GP or local vaccination clinic and let them know that you are interested in becoming a vaccinator and how to do so.

• Some vaccinator roles are advertised by local NHS employers, so you can check and apply through NHS Jobs for roles in your area.

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Note that whilst there are some common tick-box things which need to be completed (e.g. e-Learning), there might also be some local specific requirements you need to meet - so it is a good idea to clarify and ask wherever you may be applying!

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Who are the NHS looking for to become a COVID vaccinator?

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• You do not need to be a current NHS healthcare professional, as full training will be provided.

• You will need to show commitment and willingness to complete the appropriate learning and development courses as required, to demonstrate the right capabilities for the positions. This will include vaccine training, administration training and NHS statutory and mandatory training.

• You will need to be able to work as part of a team (including experienced clinicians) and be a strong communicator with good people skills. This is important as you will need to be able to discuss relevant information with service users, displaying empathy and reassurance at all times.

• You will also be expected to maintain and record accurate documentation of interactions between clients, colleagues, and other relevant agencies to ensure the smooth running of the service.

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Do you need to have any specific qualifications to become a COVID-19 vaccinator?  

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If you are educated to NVQ 3 level in a relevant subject (equivalent to two A levels) or have an equivalent level of qualification and short courses or significant clinical equivalent previous proven experience, you are able to apply to any the following three roles: registered vaccinator, health care professional or clinical supervisor.

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However, do not fret if you don't have this level of education! If you have demonstrable and significant work experience in a healthcare setting you are still eligible to apply for a vaccinator role (but not the other two roles outlined above).

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If you do not fit this criteria, here are some alternative ways you could become involved in the vaccination campaign:

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• Consider becoming a volunteer – go on your local boroughs volunteering website and apply to be a volunteer. They should be happy to take you on board, and you might be able to volunteer at the centre. This role may involve guiding patients to where they need to go and answering their questions.

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• Post vaccination observer role – with the Pfizer vaccine, patients are expected to wait 15 minutes after their vaccination to make sure they don’t have any adverse effects. Some vaccination centres may allow non-healthcare professionals to observe these patients – you would be expected to time the 15 minutes for each patient and be mindful of anyone that doesn’t seem to be doing too well. If anything does happen (very unlikely), you’ll have to call on a doctor.

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What training do you have to undertake to become a COVID-19 vaccinator?

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Below I have included some of the essentials that need to be completed, however, depending on where you work this may differ slightly.

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1. COVID-19 e-Learning programme

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‍This involves a 60-90 minutes session focused on ‘Core Knowledge’. This is then followed by 30 minutes for each vaccine-specific session and after this 15- 30 minutes for knowledge assessments.

This can be accessed on this website: https://portal.e-lfh.org.uk.

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2. Immunisation e-Learning programme

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This part of the training covers vaccine storage, administration and various legal aspects. Each session is approximately 30 minutes.

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Note that: the amount of time it takes to complete the e-Learning programme can be variable depending on your previous knowledge and experience. Those who are more familiar with giving and advising on immunisation will be able to complete it more quickly than those who are new to immunisation.

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3. Basic life supportand anaphylaxistraining

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4. Any additional statutory and mandatory training required by the employer

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This will depend on individual roles, local policy and what has already been completed as part of current role requirements.

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5. Face to face training about the COVID-19 vaccine programme

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This could include webinars or socially distanced classroom-type training but largely depends on what is being included.

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6. Work-based practical trainingand assessment of competency

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A period of supervised practice to allow observation of, and development of skills, in vaccine administration and application of knowledge to practice is required.

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Supervision for new vaccinators and support for all vaccinators is critical to the safe and successful delivery of the COVID-19 immunisation programme. The supervisor must be a registered, appropriately trained, experienced and knowledgeable practitioner in immunisation.

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Again the duration of this is variable  - it depends how long it takes until the assessor agrees the vaccinator is competent and confident.

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What happens at the clinic when you first begin vaccinating for COVID-19?

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You will likely get introduced to the team and how things work at the clinic. In addition to this, you might learn how to use the computer system and the specific questions which are routinely asked to patients. When you begin vaccinating, you may be supervised at first to ensure you are competent to draw up and administer the dose.

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Why is being involved in the vaccination campaign good for your medicine application?

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Whether you want to become a vaccinator or volunteer, being a part of the vaccination campaign will be an excellent way to strengthen your medicine application. You will be demonstrating your interest in healthcare as you will be actively working to improve healthcare and public health before you’ve even stepped foot into medicine.

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Skills it will help you develop that are relevant to medicine:

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• Dedication and proactiveness – you are seeking out your own opportunities

• Time management - you can balance this with other commitments

• Practical skills – if you are giving the vaccination, you will be demonstrating good manual dexterity which is useful in medicine

• Patient care – you will be responsible for making sure patients are feeling okay and addressing their questions. You can develop your active listening, communication and empathy skills here.

• Team work – you will be working as part of a wider team of managers, receptionists, doctors, pharmacists, nurses, medical students and volunteers.

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Here are some useful links that provide some more information and may help guide you in the process of applying for a vaccinator role:

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https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-vaccinator-training-recommendations/training-recommendations-for-covid-19-vaccinators

https://vaccine-jobs.nhsp.uk/vaccinator.html

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-vaccinator-competency-assessment-tool

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Author: Pavan Marwaha and Latifa Haque

Editor: Allegra Wisking

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