Resources to Help Assure Competency of Clinic Staff Administering Vaccines
April 2014
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| Resources to Help Assure Competency of Clinic Staff Administering Vaccines | |
| Published April 2014 | |
| Information presented in this article may have changed since the original publication date. For the most current immunization recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, visit www.immunize.org/acip/acip_vax.asp. | |
| Protecting the health of your patients depends on following the recommendations of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for preparing and administering vaccines to patients. Are you and your staff fully versed in the technical aspects of administering vaccines? Can the staff who provide vaccines in your setting answer “yes” to the following questions? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Do you know how to: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| The Immunization Action Coalition (IAC) is here to help with a multitude of both practical and technical vaccination resources for healthcare professionals, including free print materials covering important topics in vaccine administration. Also available for a nominal charge is an excellent training DVD, Immunization Techniques: Best Practices with Infants, Children and Adults. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Handy print materials and forms | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| IAC’s immunize.org website features helpful print materials on vaccine administration in its Handouts for Patients and Staff web section. Its Administering Vaccines Web section includes the following up-to-date tools and forms for clinic staff: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Immunization techniques DVD | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Developed by the Immunization Branch of the California Department of Public Health, in collaboration with a team of national experts, the 35-minute DVD “Immunization Techniques: Best Practices with Infants, Children, and Adults” focuses on the skills and techniques needed for vaccine administration. Every organization that administers vaccines should have a copy of this comprehensive educational program, which includes “how to” information about providing vaccinations in a clinic or non-traditional setting. It is appropriate for training and orientation, as well as a refresher for more experienced staff. To purchase this great DVD, visit www.immunize.org/dvd. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vaccine information statements | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Finally, please remember that it’s a federal requirement to provide a copy of the relevant Vaccine Information Statement (VIS) to your patient or their legal guardian before administering almost all vaccines to infants, children and adults. Check the IAC website to find a wealth of VIS information, including translations of the forms into a wide variety of languages. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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