127 - Immunisation in the Primary Health Care Setting

Course overview

'Immunisation in the Primary Health Care Setting' is an online learning program based on the clinical recommendations and information contained within the Australian Immunisation Handbook. This program is suitable for primary health care nurses who are keen to update their immunisation knowledge. 'Immunisation in the Primary Health Care Setting' is made up of five modules as well as an additional module specific to each state or territory. The modules are an enjoyable way to learn, and provide useful links to other sources of information. Each module will take approximately two hours to complete.

This course does not enable a nurse to become an accredited immuniser.

This course was last updated in May 2021.

The educational activity is sponsored by Seqirus.

Partner

APNA acknowledges Seqirus as a partner of the Immunisation in the General Practice Setting course.

Seqirus are driven by just one goal - to lessen the severity and impact of influenza, which can reach epidemic or even pandemic proportions with life-threatening consequences. They are the only vaccine company with a singular global focus on influenza, they work tirelessly on cutting-edge research, transformative technologies and the latest methods of production and distribution.

Website: https://www.seqirus.com.au/

Estimated Duration

Approximately 12 hours / 12 CPD hours

About the Author

The course has been developed by the Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association. The course was reviewed and updated in 2020.

Learning Outcomes

Part 1

This module of the course will cover the following topics:

1. Pre-vaccination counselling

At the end of this topic you should be able to:

• Demonstrate understanding of the process of pre-vaccination counselling, including:
  • Informed consent
  • Recommended National Immunisation Program vaccinations and create a catch-up schedule if required
  • Contraindications to Vaccination
  • Common side effects
  • Possible adverse events
  • Section 2.1.1 Preparing an anaphylaxis response kit)

1. Vaccination administration

At the end of this topic you should be able to:

• Demonstrate awareness of the correct procedures for vaccine administration, including appropriate techniques for vaccine administration and appropriate needle disposal

1. Documentation of vaccination

At the end of this topic you should be able to:

• Demonstrate understanding of the appropriate documentation of vaccination, including ACIR notification

1. Post vaccination care

At the end of this topic you should be able to:

• Demonstrate understanding of the principles of post vaccination care, including:
  • post vaccination advice
  • management of common and serious side-effects
  • management of anaphylaxis and notification of adverse events

Part 2
This module will cover the following topics:

1. Ordering Vaccines
   At the end of this activity you should be able to:
   • Demonstrate understanding of the ways to order vaccines
2. Transport and storage of vaccines (“cold chain”)
   At the end of this activity you should be able to:
   • Demonstrate understanding of the method for appropriate transport, storage and temperature monitoring of vaccines, as per the current NHMRC recommendations
   • Describe an appropriate system for managing cold chain and vaccine expiry dates which is able to be used in your Medical Practice
3. Medicare and Incentive payments to immunisation providers

At the end of this activity you should be able to:

• Demonstrate an understanding of incentives provided by the Australian Government to immunisation providers to encourage them to follow up on children who are overdue for vaccinations.

4. Increasing your Practice’s AIR Immunisation Rate – “Data-cleansing”
   At the end of this activity you should be able to:
   • Demonstrate understanding of appropriate methods to increase practice AIR immunisation rates, including “data cleansing”
5. Recall/Reminder systems
   At the end of this activity you should be able to:
   • Demonstrate understanding of the recall/reminder systems that can be used in regards to immunisation
6. Vaccination Clinics
   At the end of this activity you should be able to:

• Demonstrate understanding of the process and procedures involved in a vaccination clinic, including the benefits of a vaccination clinic

Part 3
This module will cover the following topics:

1. The Immune System and Vaccine Action Theory

At the end of this topic you should be able to:

• Demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between the immune system and vaccine action, including the different vaccine preparations, live attenuated and inactivated vaccines
   

1. Public health benefits

At the end of this topic you should be able to:

• Demonstrate understanding of the public health benefits of immunisation
   

1. Arguments in support of immunisation

At the end of this topic you should be able to:

• Demonstrate an understanding of the myths and realities of immunisation
• Utilise resources available to discuss with clients facts about immunisation.

Part 4
This module will cover the following topics:

1. National Immunisation Program Schedule (NIPS)

At the completion of this topic you should be able to:

• demonstrate awareness of the National Immunisation Program, including State/Territory variations

2. Travel Vaccination

At the completion of this topic you should be able to:

• demonstrate understanding of the principles of travel vaccination, including international vaccination requirements and appropriate travel health advice

3. Vaccine preventable diseases

At the completion of this topic you should be able to:

• demonstrate an understanding of vaccine preventable diseases, including how to access information and resources on vaccine preventable diseases

Part 5
This module will cover the following topic:

1. Medico-legal issues in general practice immunisation

By the completion of this topic you should be able to:

• Recognise the medico-legal issues related to vaccination and:
  • Vaccine administration regulations
  • Nurse responsibility and accountability
  • Maintaining competence through Continuing Professional Development

Part 6
This module will cover the following topic:

1. Vaccination in Special Risk Groups

By the completion of this topic you should be able to:

• Understand and be able to deal with the issues related to vaccination in special risk groups
• Develop a vaccination policy and program for your Medical Practice

Target Audience

Suitable for nurses working in primary health care including general practice.

What you’ll get

At the completion of each module you will be presented with a brief online assessment that will test your underpinning knowledge.

Once you have completed all sections of the course, a certificate will be available next to the course name in the ‘My Training’ section of APNA Online Learning.