NHS Education for Scotland have developed a range of educational resources and information to support vaccinators at all levels of experience and those supporting the COVID-19 vaccination programme, available online using the link below:

https://learn.nes.nhs.scot/37676/immunisation/covid-19-vaccines. This includes;

·     Core knowledge for COVID-19 vaccinators

·     Information about the COVID-19 vaccine

·     A link to a recorded webinar on COVID-19 vaccination programme and a PDF of vaccine specifics

·     Green Book Chapter 14a

Staff should ensure that they are up-to-date with continued professional development, including recognition and treatment of anaphylaxis:

·     Completion of LearnPro module GGC: 027 Anaphylaxis

·     Guidance re anaphylaxis

·     Emergency Treatment of Anaphlactic Reactions by Ian Robertson on YouTube

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Patient Group Directions (PGDs) are legal documents that enable registered healthcare professionals to administer and supply medication in an identified clinical situation where the patient may not be individually identified before presenting for treatment.  For most clinical situations the preferred method is for an appropriately qualified healthcare professional to prescribe for an individual patient on a one-to-one basis.  In order to comply with the necessary clinical governance arrangements NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde must be aware of all PGDs in use.  The PGD on this website are for reference purposes only. For any enquiries relating to the use and authorisation of PGDs please contact: [email protected].

The PGDs can be accessed via The Public Health Protection Unit (PHPU).  

1. Ensure staff involved with the handling of vaccines are trained in importance of maintaining the cold chain.
2. This includes the recording of daily temperatures (actual, maximum & minimum temperatures and resetting the thermometer). Deputy arrangements should be in place to ensure continuity of service.
3. Ensure all staff are aware how to respond to temperature excursion. Staff must report abnormal temperatures (i.e. temperature recording sheet) used to record reason and what action taken if temperatures outside 2°C - 8°C.
4. Ensure temperatures are recorded minimal twice daily. Extra checks may be necessary given multiple door opening during vaccination session. Ensure temperature records are available for review covering period week before vaccine delivery and during storage.
5. Procedures:
   • Stock rotation is carried out to ensure shortest expiry date is used first.
   • Vaccines should be stored in body of fridge not touching walls or back.
   • Ensure fridge never packed to more than 60% capacity to allow air circulation.
   • Ensure contingency arrangement in place in the event of fridge failure.
6. Clinic use:
   • Only remove from the cold room/fridge the minimum quantity required for two hour period maximum. Complete stock issue recording sheet detailing quantity issued and balance available. Vaccines should never be out of the fridge for more than TWO hours pre dilution. No vaccine can be returned to the fridge after issue.

Further information re vaccine ordering and storage:

• LearnPro NHSGGC Cold Chain Management module
  • Please note a brief (20 minutes) e-learning module regarding the cold chain, including how to prevent incidents, is available and we would encourage all staff involved in vaccines to undertake this. The cold chain e-learning module is available at http://nhs.learnprouk.com/ . Search for GGC: 097 Cold Chain Management.

Staff delivering COVID-19 vaccination must use the Vaccine Management Tool (VMT) to record staffs’ vaccinations.

In addition to the resources available online https://learn.nes.nhs.scot/37676/immunisation/covid-19-vaccines (User Guide, Offline version Vaccination Form and Vaccination Management Tool Drop-in surgeries), NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has developed a training video on how to use the VMT and is available online https://youtu.be/TLBZ5oouOBA.

Staff must read through the VMT User Guide and associated training materials to ensure that they are familiar with the VMT ahead of vaccinating.

For clinical enquires, please contact Public Health Protection Unit on 0141 201 4917 or by emailing [email protected].

Images of COVID vaccination combined needle and syringes (PDF).

Adrenalin algorithm https://www.resus.org.uk/sites/default/files/2020-06/G2010Poster_Anaphylaxis.pdf.