step V Administering Vaccines

1 Step : Administering Vaccines Y ou have your vaccination supplies, and you have properly stored your vaccine inventory. As you start to assess your patients' vaccination atadministering Vaccines , don't be intimidated . this will soon be second nature to you. status and history, the gaps in their records remind Determine who can administer Vaccines you why your practice is now incorporating vacci- (either independently or under standing nation services. It's time to administer vaccine. orders). Chances are, many of your patients are behind on Every state has regulations that specify who can administer Vaccines .

2 All states allow physicians, their vaccinations and they are grateful that you are helping them get up to date. Even if you are new nurse practitioners, and physician assistants to both assess the need for and to admin- ister Vaccines . All states allow RNs Step-by-Step: and LPNs to administer Vaccines . Vaccine Administration Tasks Most states allow medical assis- Determine who can administer Vaccines (either independ- tants (MAs) to give injections after ently or under standing orders) proper training and with supervi- Always provide a Vaccine Information Statement (VIS) sion. All states allow pharmacists Administer the vaccine properly You'll need to check to Use the proper site for injection Prepare the vaccine (and diluent, if needed) see if there are restrictions Use the proper needle gauge and length on the particular vaccine(s).

3 Administer injections by the correct route intramuscular they may administer in (IM) or subcutaneous (Subcut) your state or if Vaccines Know how to deliver nasal spray vaccine can be administered under (when recommended). Administer all needed Vaccines at the same visit standing orders Safely dispose of the needle and syringe and nasal sprayer to assess the need for and admin- Avoid vaccine administration errors ister one or more Vaccines if they Prepare and watch for an allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) after have been properly trained and vaccination certi ed. However, you'll need to Always report anaphylaxis and other adverse events after check to see if there are restrictions vaccination to VAERS.

4 On the particular vaccine(s) they Prepare and watch for syncope (fainting) may administer in your state or if Communicate about appointments for subsequent doses Vaccines can be administered Understand proper spacing of doses under standing orders. For more Vaccinating Adults: A Step-by-Step guide immunization action coalition 68 step 5: Administering Vaccines information about standing orders and who is eli- gible to provide vaccination services using them, which might include RNs, pharmacists , and MAs, see the immunization action coalition 's (IAC) Using Standing Orders for Administering Vaccines : What You Should Know at You also should check with your state medical licensing board for the regulations in your practice location.

5 Another great resource is IAC's (Section 2125 of the Public Health Service Act [42. 10 Steps to Implementing Standing Orders for 300aa-26]) are required to provide a copy of immunization in Your Practice Setting available at the relevant federal Vaccine Information Statement (VIS) before Administering most Vaccines to a person of any age, including adults. VISs are avail- Regardless of the local regulations, proper vaccine able for all Vaccines licensed in the United States, administration technique is a skill that requires and many are available in multiple languages on practice.

6 If you have not administered injectable or the IAC website at A listing nasal spray Vaccines recently, you should refresh of the most current versions for each VIS also may your skills. In addition to watching a vaccine admin- be found on this website. Patients must be offered istration video (one example is discussed later in a copy (which can be an electronic copy) of the this chapter), you should consider contacting your VIS to take home with them, though the recipient local health department. Staff there may be able may decline. (You can learn more about this federal to provide hands-on training with this important requirement in Step 6 Documentation and Related procedure, or they can head you in the right direction Issues.)

7 You probably will want to give patients even for guidance. more information about Remember if you don't the disease that the vac- Always provide a Vaccine Information cine prevents, as well administer the vaccine Statement (VIS) as answer any questions properly, you might Since 1994, healthcare providers who administer they may have. as well not give it at all. VISs are available for all Vaccines any vaccine Administer the vaccine properly covered by licensed in the United States, and the National Remember if you don't administer the vaccine many are available in multiple Childhood properly, you might as well not give it at all.

8 You've languages on the IAC website at Vaccine gone to a lot of trouble to keep your Vaccines Injury Act viable, and your patients need this protection. VACCINE INFORMATION STATEMENT. What a waste it would be for the vaccine not to be administered properly! ,Q XHQ]D )OX 9 DFFLQH Many Vaccine Information Statements are available in Spanish and other languages. ,QDFWLYDWHG RU 5 HFRPELQDQW . See Hojas de informaci n sobre vacunas est n disponibles en espa ol y en muchos otros What you need to know idiomas. Visite 7 KHUH LV QR OLYH X YLUXV LQ X VKRWV They cannot cause 1 :K\ JHW YDFFLQDWHG" WKH X.

9 ,Q XHQ]D X LV D FRQWDJLRXV GLVHDVH WKDW VSUHDGV 7 KHUH DUH PDQ\ X YLUXVHV DQG WKH\ DUH DOZD\V . around the United States every year, usually between FKDQJLQJ (DFK \HDU D QHZ X YDFFLQH LV PDGH WR SURWHFW . October and May. DJDLQVW WKUHH RU IRXU YLUXVHV WKDW DUH OLNHO\ WR FDXVH . GLVHDVH LQ WKH XSFRPLQJ X VHDVRQ %XW HYHQ ZKHQ WKH . )OX LV FDXVHG E\ LQ XHQ]D YLUXVHV DQG LV VSUHDG PDLQO\ . One common mistake is that too short a needle is vaccine doesn't exactly match these viruses, it may still by coughing, sneezing, and close contact. provide some protection. $Q\RQH FDQ JHW X )OX VWULNHV VXGGHQO\ DQG FDQ ODVW.

10 Flu vaccine cannot prevent: several days. Symptoms vary by age, but can include: X WKDW LV FDXVHG E\ D YLUXV QRW FRYHUHG E\ WKH YDFFLQH . fever/chills or sore throat LOOQHVVHV WKDW ORRN OLNH X EXW DUH QRW . muscle aches fatigue ,W WDNHV DERXW ZHHNV IRU SURWHFWLRQ WR GHYHORS DIWHU . used a subcutaneous Subcut needle rather than cough YDFFLQDWLRQ DQG SURWHFWLRQ ODVWV WKURXJK WKH X VHDVRQ . headache runny or stuffy nose RPH SHRSOH VKRXOG QRW JHW . 6. WKLV YDFFLQH. Flu can also lead to pneumonia and blood infections, and cause diarrhea and seizures in children. If you have a Tell the person who is giving you the vaccine: PHGLFDO FRQGLWLRQ VXFK DV KHDUW RU OXQJ GLVHDVH X FDQ ,I \RX KDYH DQ\ VHYHUH OLIH WKUHDWHQLQJ DOOHUJLHV.