Immunisation

To ensure safety and effectiveness it is important that vaccinators are competent and confident in their role. Those practitioners directly administering vaccines should be signed off as competent. Select the play button (▷) to review the suggested prerequisites for practitioners directly administering vaccines

This learning pathway resource provides an overview of workforce vaccination education resources, supporting healthcare workers at various stages of their vaccination practice, including: 

• New vaccinators, whether registered practitioners or healthcare support workers.
• Returning or redeployed staff with previous vaccination experience who need an update.
• Experienced vaccination staff looking for continued education.

The document outlines a range of educational tools—such as e-learning modules, webinars, and self-appraisal tools—along with guidance on their intended audience and estimated completion time.

If you’re new to vaccination practice, you may find the Promoting Effective Immunisation Practice (PEIP) programme helpful, tailored for both registered practitioners and healthcare support workers.

If you’re a returning vaccinator, the self-appraisal tool can help identify the most relevant learning based on your current knowledge and experience.

Before you can undertake vaccination practice you need to demonstrate that you have achieved the required knowledge and skills. 

Following completion of vaccine specific learning resources appropriate to the scope of your practice, your achievement of clinical proficiency will be assessed in your workplace.

PSD/PHS have developed a generic Vaccine proficiency to allow you to demonstrate proficiency.

Once completed and signed off by your facilitator/supervisor, you should retain in your folder of evidence and be made available to your facilitator for the final review of your portfolio.

The Development Framework for Vaccinators provides a clear, nationally aligned approach to support the education, development and progression of Scotland’s vaccination workforce.

Designed for vaccinators, educators, supervisors, managers and workforce planners, the Framework sets out the roles, responsibilities and expected knowledge, skills and behaviours for vaccination practice across career levels 3–7. It brings core expectations and specialist vaccination content together in one practical resource, supporting consistent, high‑quality and equitable vaccination delivery across all settings.

The Framework is strategically aligned with Scotland’s 5‑Year Vaccination and Immunisation Framework and Delivery Plan and supports national priorities including workforce sustainability, equitable access, confident vaccine conversations and preparedness for future vaccination challenges.

You are encouraged to use the Framework to:

• Support personal development and career planning
• Inform supervision, appraisal and reflective practice
• Guide education and training planning
• Support service design, workforce planning and skill mix decisions

The vaccination workforce are encouraged to explore the resource and embed it into local education and workforce development activity.

Access the Development Framework for Vaccinators on the NMAHP Development Frameworks website. 

This matrix is intended to outline suggested knowledge and skills required by individuals undertaking the role of Immunisation Coordinator. The matrix aims to articulate the knowledge and skills required to provide high quality services. The matrix is intended to be used by Immunisation Coordinators, managers, and educators to understand and develop knowledge and skills across five domains. This resource has been mapped to Level 8 of the NHS Knowledge and skills framework.

These resources may be available in full or summary form in alternative formats and community languages. To discuss your needs, please contact NHS Education for Scotland at 0131 656 3200 or email altforms@nes.scot.nhs.uk.

Transcripts for any videos within these resources are available upon request.