The World Health Organisation (2024) defines immunisation as ‘the process whereby a person is made immune or resistant to an infectious disease, typically by the administration of a vaccine’. Vaccines stimulate the body’s own immune system to protect the person against subsequent infection or disease. Immunization is a proven tool for controlling and eliminating life-threatening infectious diseases and is estimated to avert between 3.5 million to 5 million deaths each year.
Nurses play a key role in advising and promoting immunisation. This includes administering vaccinations included in the childhood immunisation programme and those recommended for adults, including travel vaccines and the annual influenza vaccination.
Influenza Immunisations
There are 3 types of influenza virus: A, B and C. Influenza A and influenza B are responsible for most clinical illness. Influenza is highly infectious with a usual incubation period of 1 to 3 days. See the links below for seasonal flu vaccination guidance.
UK Health Security Agency: Flu Immunisation eLearning Programme
Flu vaccination: easy-read flu vaccination resources
To access up to date information on treatment schedule guidance click on the links below:
Key links
WHO: Vaccines and Immunisations
UK Health Security Agency: Immunisations
Immunisations Against Infectious Disease: The Green Book
Routine Childhood Immunisations
