Immunisation and Vaccination

Objective

To highlight the importance of vaccination in preventing and controlling infectious disease and to provide support material for Care Home Managers (CHMs) and Champions to increase uptake among both residents and staff, particularly for COVID-19 and influenza.

Further information: Public Health Wales Immunisation & Vaccinations:Immunisation and Vaccines - Public Health Wales

Why is vaccination important?

Vaccination and safe drinking water are among the most successful public health interventions worldwide.

Vaccines:

Eradicate disease.
Save lives.
Strengthen healthcare systems.
Increase equality and global health security.

All health and social care workers have a duty to protect those they care for by accepting recommended vaccines. Seasonal flu and COVID-19 can have serious consequences for vulnerable or immunocompromised residents. Annual vaccination for healthcare staff protects residents and colleagues.

Health Protection Champions and Vaccination

Your Role:

To support colleagues and residents to access and understand recommended vaccines.

Why you are important?

Protect staff and residents from respiratory viruses such as flu and COVID-19.
Help reduce pressure on health services.
Share trusted information and address misconceptions.
Support colleagues in making informed decisions without coercion.

How to be effective:

Approachable and accessible.
Non-judgemental.
Knowledgeable about vaccination facts.
Willing to support and encourage discussions.
Well-supported by management.

How Health Protection Champions Can Improve Uptake

Communication:

Identify colleagues' concerns and provide accurate information.
Avoid pressuring staff, support informed decisions.
Let staff know you are a Vaccine Champion and share your own vaccination experiences.
Host information sessions or one-to-one discussions.
Respect confidentiality and personal choices.

Access:

Ensure staff know where and when to get vaccines.
Escalate access issues to managers or local vaccination teams.

Vaccination Facts

General Vaccine Information:

Vaccines prevent millions of deaths annually worldwide.
Teach the immune system to create antibodies safely.
All vaccines undergo rigorous safety testing and ongoing monitoring.
Side effects are usually mild and short-lived.

Flu Vaccines:

Cannot give you the flu (adult flu vaccines contain no live virus).
Mild side effects: sore arm, tiredness, headache, aching muscles.
Annual vaccination reduces personal risk and risk of transmission to residents.

COVID-19 Vaccines:

Reduce risk of severe illness and death.
Millions administered globally; very safe.
Side effects usually mild: sore arm, slight temperature, fatigue, headache.
Covid-19 vaccines do not contain live virus and cannot alter DNA.
mRNA vaccines teach cells to produce the spike protein to trigger immune response.
Booster doses improve protection, especially against new variants.

Role of the Health Protection Champions in Practice

Share accurate, up-to-date information in an open, engaging way.
Listen and understand colleagues' concerns; provide facts sensitively.
Encourage vaccination uptake while respecting individual decisions.
Identify and address misconceptions about vaccines among colleagues and residents.
Make vaccines accessible and ensure staff know how to get them.

Training
Public Health Wales Video: Importance of Vaccines | Public Health Wales - YouTube
Motivational Interviewing: Having Better Vaccine Conversations (PHW e-learning): Immunisation eLearning - Public Health Wales

Resources
PHW Flu Vaccination Poster:phw.nhs.wales/topics/immunisation-and-vaccines/fluvaccine/influenza-flu-information-for-health-and-social-care-workers-eligible-for-the-vaccine/vaccination-champion-poster-a4-2-pdf/

References and Further Guidance Links:
UK GOV COVID-19 Vaccine Guidance: Information on COVID-19 vaccination: easy-read guide - GOV.UK
PHW COVID-19 Vaccines: COVID-19 vaccination information - Public Health Wales
PHW Flu Vaccine: Flu Vaccination - Public Health Wales
PHW - Immunisation and Vaccines:Immunisation and Vaccines - Public Health Wales