FAQs on COVID-19 and Seasonal Influenza vaccination

COVID-19 Vaccination

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What training do I need to complete if I am participating in the COVID-19 vaccination programme as part of the Spring 2024 Booster Campaign?

Where can I access training on vaccination?

Information on the training programmes approved by PSI, as well as the providers and how to book these courses is available on the Irish Institute of Pharmacy (IIOP) website. To access the NIO training programmes on HSeLanD, go to the Courses tab > Catalogue > Clinical Skills > COVID-19 Vaccination Training Programme. As well as completing the relevant training detailed above, pharmacists must also complete a self-assessment of competence.
How are pharmacists authorised to supply and administer COVID-19 vaccines?

The Medicinal Products (Prescription and Control of Supply) (Amendment) (No.7) Regulations 2020 (S.I. No. 698 of 2020) and subsequent amendments allow a registered pharmacist to supply and administer a COVID-19 vaccine where they have received training approved by the PSI. Further details of the PSI approved training for pharmacists is available here.
How do I access the approved training?

In order to supply and administer any COVID-19 vaccine, pharmacists must first undertake or have up-to-date training in the following programmes:

- CPR for adults and children

- Responding to an Emergency Situation and Management of Anaphylaxis (RESMA)

- Medicines Administration (Parenteral) (PAMT)

- Delivery of a Pharmacy-Based Vaccination Service

- Vaccine-specific training developed by the National Immunisation Office (NIO) for the COVID-19 vaccine to be administered (accessed on HSeLanD)

Information on the training programmes approved by PSI, as well as the providers and how to book these courses is available on the Irish Institute of Pharmacy (IIOP) website.

The National Immunisation Office (NIO) training programmes for the specific COVID-19 vaccines you wish to administer are available through HSeLanD- the Health Service Executive's online learning and development portal. The NIO training module you are required to undertake, depends on the COVID-19 vaccine product(s) you will be administering.

The HSE have developed this guide for community pharmacists to access HSeLanD training.

What training has been approved by the PSI?

Is the Medicines Administration (Parenteral) (PAMT) Training Programme valid indefinitely?

No. The Medicines Administration (Parenteral)(PAMT) training programme is not valid indefinitely. The PSI’s guidance on this is as follows:

Pharmacists are asked to reflect, self-assess and to evaluate whether they need to refresh their training in this programme, in order to ensure they have the necessary skills and knowledge to safely deliver the associated medicines or vaccination service.

The PSI requires that this training programme is repeated if a pharmacist wishes to administer:

- a vaccine or emergency medicine via an injection route i.e., intramuscular or subcutaneous, which they have never previously administered.

- or a vaccine or emergency medicine via an injection route which they have neither practised (i.e., administered to a patient) nor been trained in the previous 12 months (or in the case of seasonal influenza vaccination, in the previous flu season).

Please note that ‘trained in’ refers to training in the Medicines Administration (Parenteral) Training Programme. Therefore, there are times where the training may need to be repeated throughout the pharmacist’s career.
Do I need to repeat the Medicines Administration (Parenteral)(PAMT) Training Programme if I am administering vaccinations to children this season?

The Medicines Administration (Parenteral) (PAMT) course, which is accredited by the PSI, includes training on administration of injections to infants from 6 months of age. When offering a vaccination service for children, pharmacists should carefully reflect on their skills, and self-assess and evaluate whether they need to refresh their training with this programme. Pharmacists who have not completed the PAMT training programme, which commenced in 2016, must undertake this training programme in order to be able to administer vaccinations by injection to children from 6 months of age.
I have completed pharmacist vaccination training in another jurisdiction, is this training valid in order to supply and administer a vaccination in Ireland?

No. In order to supply and administer any vaccine, pharmacists must first undertake or have up-to-date training in the following programmes:

- CPR for adults and children

- Responding to an Emergency Situation and Management of Anaphylaxis (RESMA)

- Medicines Administration (Parenteral) (PAMT)

- Delivery of a Pharmacy-Based Vaccination Service

The training programmes for the specific vaccines you wish to administer can then be completed.

Information on the training programmes approved by PSI, as well as the providers and how to book these courses is available on the Irish Institute of Pharmacy (IIOP) website.

Further information on training for pharmacists on the supply and administration of vaccinations, including the validity period of each training programme is available on the PSI website.
Can I deliver COVID-19 vaccination services offsite from the registered pharmacy premises?

Yes. COVID-19 vaccines (and influenza vaccines, see below) can be administered by pharmacists at any suitable and appropriate place, having regard to public convenience and the need to protect the health and safety of the public and safely administer the product.

We have published guidance to help you in considering what types of location are appropriate, and to support pharmacies in providing safe vaccination services offsite from the pharmacy premises. There are a number of checklists included in the guidance and key points for consideration. Current PSI guidance which supports the provision of a pharmacy vaccination service in the pharmacy will still apply and must be read and adapted to the chosen setting.
What training and/or requirements do I need to complete to become a COVID-19 vaccinator directly employed by the HSE?

In order to be eligible to become a vaccinator employed by the HSE, a pharmacist must be up to date in CPR training for adults and children and Responding to an Emergency Situation and Management of Anaphylaxis (RESMA), Medicines Administration (Parenteral) (PAMT) and Delivery of a Pharmacy-Based Vaccination Service training programmes. You can check the period of validity of these training programmes on this website.

The relevant NIO COVID-19 vaccine training programme on HSeLanD must also be completed. All pharmacist vaccinators employed by the HSE should complete a self-assessment of competence, attesting to the completion of their training and competence. The HSE will also have particular governance arrangements and additional training requirements set out for those employed as vaccinators.
Can I participate in the COVID-19 vaccination programme if I have never vaccinated before or haven’t vaccinated in the last 12 months/influenza season?

Yes. If you have never vaccinated before, or if you have not vaccinated in the last 12 months/during the last influenza season, you must complete the requisite training and complete a self-assessment of competence.

Seasonal Influenza vaccination

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What training do I need to complete if I am new to participating in the Influenza vaccination programme for the 2023/2024 season?
In order to supply and administer Influenza vaccines, pharmacists must first undertake or have up-to-date training in the following programmes:
- CPR for adults and children
- Responding to an Emergency Situation and Management of Anaphylaxis (RESMA)
- Medicines Administration (Parenteral) (PAMT)
- Delivery of a Pharmacy-Based Vaccination Service
- Administration of Influenza Vaccination Training Programme 2023/2024 (Available through the IIOP)
Information on the training programmes approved by PSI, as well as the providers and how to book these courses is available on the Irish Institute of Pharmacy (IIOP) website. As well as completing the relevant training detailed above, pharmacists must also complete a self-assessment of competence.
What must I do in the event of a fridge failure?
The procedure to be followed following breakdown in the ‘cold chain’ is set out in the HSE Guidelines for maintenance of cold-chain in vaccine fridges and management of vaccine stock. In addition, the following resources may be helpful:
- Recommendations for maintenance of Vaccine Fridge within Temperature during a Planned Power-cut
- Vaccine Ordering and Storage
- 30 minute e-learning module Storing and Managing Vaccines available on www.hseland.ie
Can a nurse administer vaccinations on behalf of a pharmacist in a retail pharmacy business premises?

No. Under Regulation 4B of the Medicinal Products (Prescription and Control of Supply) Regulations 2003 (as amended) the authority to supply and administer a vaccine in a retail pharmacy business, without a prescription, is solely vested to an appropriately trained registered pharmacist.
How do I register my pharmacy with the National Cold Chain Service to order vaccines?

Information is provided by the HSE about the National Cold Chain Service.
Am I allowed to advertise vaccination services in my pharmacy?

A pharmacy may highlight the availability of a vaccination service provided by that pharmacy, to their patients and members of the public. This can include the display of factual information in relation to the pharmacy vaccination service. It must not include the brand name of a specific vaccine.

All vaccines are licensed as prescription-only medicines and the advertising of prescription-only medicines to the general public is not permitted by the Medicinal Products (Control of Advertising) Regulations 2007.
Can I deliver a vaccination service on my pharmacy premises, outside the trading hours of the pharmacy that I have notified to the PSI?

Yes. Pharmacies can provide a vaccination service at the registered pharmacy premises, outside of the normal opening hours, provided a registered pharmacist is present on site at all times. Pharmacy owners and superintendent pharmacists planning a vaccination service outside the normal opening hours of the pharmacy should ensure appropriate security is in place to safeguard their staff members and ensure patients and members of the public do not have access to the dispensary or other areas that medicines are kept.
How do I go about adding a second patient consultation area to the floor plans of my pharmacy in anticipation of increased vaccination service delivery this year?

If you wish to add a second patient consultation area to your pharmacy floor plan, you can send the PSI a copy of the updated floor plans in advance of commencing any works, outlining the changes that are to be made to the original floor plan. Pharmacies can make certain changes to their registration details using the online registration portal.

We will review these floorplans on a case-by-case basis and advise if it will be necessary to complete a Material Change Form and/or pay an associated fee. However, the need to add an additional consultation area should be considered in light of changes to legislation which allow pharmacists to deliver certain vaccination services (COVID-19 and Influenza vaccines) at locations offsite from the registered pharmacy premises (see below).
Can I deliver influenza vaccination services at locations offsite from the registered pharmacy premises?

Yes. In October 2020, legislation was amended to permit appropriately trained pharmacists to supply and administer the influenza vaccine at any suitable and appropriate place (i.e., within or offsite from the retail pharmacy business premises) having regard to public convenience and the need to protect the health and safety of the public. This includes the influenza vaccine suspension for injection presented as a pre-filled syringe, and the influenza vaccine nasal spray, suspension.

Any influenza vaccination service provided offsite under this legislation must be carried out in connection with a named registered retail pharmacy business, in which the vaccinating pharmacist is employed or engaged. The PSI has published guidance to support this practice extension.

Legislation permits an appropriately trained pharmacist to supply and administer the influenza vaccine suspension for injection presented as a pre-filled syringe and the influenza vaccine nasal spray, suspension, at any suitable and appropriate place (i.e., within or offsite from the retail pharmacy business premises) having regard to public convenience and the need to protect the health and safety of the public.

Your choice of location should include a risk assessment to assure patient safety and the same high standard of care as would be provided on the pharmacy premises. Whether delivery of an influenza vaccination to a patient in an off-site location is , suitable and appropriate will, depend on a number of considerations.

We have published guidance to help you in considering what types of location are appropriate, and to support pharmacies in providing safe influenza vaccination services offsite from the pharmacy premises. There are a number of checklists included in the guidance and key points for consideration. Current PSI guidance which supports the provision of a pharmacy vaccination service in the pharmacy will still apply and must be read and adapted to the chosen setting.

Patients should have advance notice of the location and nature of the off-site vaccination site. As is the case with all vaccination services, both the patient and pharmacist should be satisfied that the given setting is appropriate for the individual patient.
Can a pharmacy student supply and administer vaccinations to patients on behalf of a pharmacist in a retail pharmacy business?

No. While legislation has been introduced to enable administration of COVID-19 vaccinations and Influenza vaccinations by students of health professions, including students undertaking a master’s degree in pharmacy, this applies to administration of vaccinations by vaccinators employed by the HSE. These services operate under the management and governance of the HSE.

COVID-19 Vaccine	HSeLanD Module
Comirnaty Omicron XBB.1.5 3mcg (for children aged 6 months to 4 years)	mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine Formulations for children aged 6 months to 4 years
Comirnaty Omicron XBB.1.5 30mcg (for individuals 12 years and older)	mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine Formulations for people aged 12 years and older
Comirnaty Omicron XBB.1.5 10mcg (for children aged 5-11 years)	mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine Formulations for children aged 5-11 years
Nuvaxovid XBB.1.5 5mcg	COVID-19 Vaccination Training Programme – Nuvaxovid XBB.1.5

COVID-19 Vaccine	HSeLanD Module
Comirnaty Omicron XBB.1.5 3mcg (for children aged 6 months to 4 years)	mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine Formulations for children aged 6 months to 4 years
Comirnaty Omicron XBB.1.5 30mcg (for individuals 12 years and older)	mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine Formulations for people aged 12 years and older
Comirnaty Omicron XBB.1.5 10mcg (for children aged 5-11 years)	mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine Formulations for children aged 5-11 years
Nuvaxovid XBB.1.5 5mcg	COVID-19 Vaccination Training Programme – Nuvaxovid XBB.1.5

FAQs on COVID-19 and Seasonal Influenza vaccination

COVID-19 Vaccination

Please click on the FAQs below

COVID-19 Vaccinations used in the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme and relevant HSeLanD module to be completed as part of the required training

Seasonal Influenza vaccination