National minimum standards and core curriculum for vaccination training

Recently updated standards from the National Minimum Standards for Immunisations (June 2025) have raised two significant changes which will directly affect HCAs moving forward with vaccination skills.

National Minimum Standards

The first key change is that there is now an expectation that the practitioner has a formal qualification in Health and Social Care at a minimum of  Level Three of the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF)

Previously, this was a recommendation and left to the discretion of the employing organisation.

Those staff who have completed an equivalent academic programme, such as NVQ, Foundation degree or apprentice pathway, will meet the criteria and can continue with vaccination skills.

However, those staff with no formal qualification will now need to consider their personal development within the organisation, through appraisal processes. Funding may be available via NHS England to support Band 1-4 staff development, and this can be explored via regional training hubs.

Informed Consent

The second change that has been introduced relates to informed consent of the patient.
The standards now indicate that a registered clinician must gain consent from the patient, before delegating to the HCA to administer the vaccine.

Within a practice, this will prove to be operationally difficult to implement and UKHSA are being asked to consider alternative ways of supporting this process.

As a training organisation, we hope to have some practical solutions to support HCAs continuing within immunisation clinics relating to consent, as we fully appreciate the impact this will have on delivery and operational processes.

We recognise the considerable practical difficulties these heightened standards place on Primary Care staffing, particularly during peak vaccination periods.  We have therefore referred the matter of consent to the Local Medical Committee (LMC). The LMC will be looking to take up this matter with the appropriate stakeholders to challenge or seek modification to the criteria. Once we receive a response, we will notify you accordingly.