Can a healthcare assistant/healthcare support worker (HCA/HCSW) administer the flu vaccine?
A healthcare assistant cannot administer a flu vaccine under a Patient Group Direction (PGD). Only certain professionally qualified and registered healthcare professionals can supply or administer medicines under a PGD and they do so as named individuals. However, healthcare assistants (HCA) can administer vaccines under the directions of a prescriber for an individual patient (often known as a Patient Specific Direction (PSD)). The prescriber must be satisfied that the HCA has the relevant skills to undertake this task. The responsibility for the assessment of the patient and ongoing practice legally lies with the prescriber. In instances where HCAs administer vaccines, the employer must ensure that there is adequate indemnity cover and insurance to cover their practice.
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