Immunisation by Nurses

6.1 A doctor may delegate responsibility for immunisation to a nurse provided the following conditions are fulfilled:

1. The nurse is willing to be professionally accountable for this work as defined in the UKCC guidance on the ‘Scope of Professional Practice’.
2. The nurse has received training and is competent in all aspects of immunisation, including the contraindications to specific vaccines.
3. Adequate training has been given in the recognition and treatment of anaphylaxis.

6.2 If these conditions are fulfilled and nurses carry out the immunisation in accordance with accepted District Health Authority, NHS Trust or Health Board policy, the Authority/Trust/Board will accept responsibility for immunisation by nurses. Similarly, nurses employed by general practitioners should work to agreed protocols including all the above conditions.