The World Health Organisation (2019) 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 2 and 3 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. Please see the ‘Travel Health’ section for Travel health guidance.
To access up to date information on treatment schedule guidance click on the links below:
Key links –
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/immunisation
https://www.rcn.org.uk/clinical-topics/public-health/immunisation
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/
Introduction of a universal HPV immunisation programme – https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/810236/HPV_univeral_programme_letter-bipartite.pdf
Additional information:
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Influenza Immunisation
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.
Seasonal flu vaccination guidance from Public Health England and The Department of Health & Social Care (2018) is offered on the links below.
To access up to date information on signs, symptoms and treatment guidance click on the links below:
Key links –
