Training for Pharmacists for the Supply and Administration of Vaccinations

Pharmacists who have completed the required training, are permitted to supply and administer the following vaccines:

  • seasonal influenza vaccine,
  • pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine
  • herpes zoster (shingles) vaccine
  • COVID-19 vaccines:
  1. Comirnaty / Pfizer BioNTech,
  2. Spikevax (formerly COVID-19 Vaccine Moderna)
  3. Vaxzevria (formerly COVID-19 Vaccine Astra Zeneca)
  4. JCovden (formerly COVID-19 Vaccine Janssen)
  5. Comirnaty for Children Aged 5-11 Years
  6. Nuvaxovid (Novavax COVID-19)
  7. Comirnaty RTU (ready to use) 30mcg 
  8. Comirnaty RTU (ready to use) Original/Omicron BA.1 
  9. Comirnaty RTU (ready to use) Original/Omicron BA.4-5
  10. Spikevax bivalent Original/Omicron BA.1
  11. Comirnaty 3 micrograms/dose (for those aged 6 months to 4 years)
  12. Spikevax® bivalent Original/Omicron BA. 4-5

The legislation which allows for these services is available on the Irish Statute Book website.

What training do I need to complete?

The number of training programmes you will have to complete will depend on what services you wish to provide. You will receive a certificate of completion once you complete each training programme.

In order to supply and administer any vaccine, pharmacists must first undertake or have up-to-date training in the following programmes:

  1. CPR for adults and children
  2. Responding to an Emergency Situation and Management of Anaphylaxis (RESMA)
  3. Medicines Administration (Parenteral) (PAMT)
  4. Delivery of a Vaccination Service

The training programmes for the specific vaccines you wish to administer can then be completed. This is illustrated in the diagram below.

Diagram illustrating pharmacist training requirements for the supply and administration of vaccines and emergency medicines

Vaccinations and Emeregency Medicines Diagram March 2023.

*The National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) made significant changes to the Anaphylaxis Chapter of the Immunisation Guidelines for Ireland in June 2022, which stated that “Adrenaline auto-injectors are not recommended as first line treatment by health professionals for the immediate management of anaphylaxis or suspected anaphylaxis following vaccination unless they are the only source of adrenaline available, as they may not allow IM delivery of an age appropriate dose”.

In the absence of any other National Guidelines for the immediate management of anaphylaxis in the community, PSI would consider it best practice for a pharmacist to administer Adrenaline (Epinephrine) intramuscularly from an ampoule, in all emergency circumstances (where indicated), in accordance with NIAC guidelines.

  

This would require the pharmacist to have valid training in:

  • CPR,
  • RESMA, and
  • PAMT

However, if only an Adrenaline (Epinephrine) auto-injector is available, or if you are only trained and competent to administer an Adrenaline (Epinephrine) auto-injector, this should be used.

Pharmacists should use their expert knowledge, skills and professional judgement to administer Adrenaline (Epinephrine) in line with National guidance in accordance with the product readily available to them, which they are trained and competent to administer.

How can I access training and how long is it valid for?

Training programme  Validity period
CPR Course for adults and children Details of providers are available on the IIOP website. Training is valid for two years (or as stated by training provider)
Medicines Administration (Parenteral) (PAMT) training programme Available as a blended programme through Hibernian Healthcare.

Pharmacists are asked to reflect, self-assess and to evaluate whether they need to refresh their training in this programme, in order to ensure they have the necessary skills and knowledge to safely deliver the associated medicines or vaccination service. The PSI requires that this training programme is repeated if a pharmacist wishes to administer:
1. a vaccine or emergency medicine via an injection route i.e., intramuscular or subcutaneous, which they have never previously administered; or
2. a vaccine or emergency medicine via an injection route which they have neither practised (i.e. administered to a patient) nor been trained on in the previous 12 months (or in the case of seasonal influenza vaccination, in the previous flu season)
Responding to an Emergency Situation and Management of Anaphylaxis (RESMA) training programme Developed by Hibernian Healthcare and available through the IIOP. Training is valid for two years.
Delivery of a Pharmacy-based Vaccination Service Training Programme Available through the IIOP.

Pharmacists are asked to reflect, self-assess and to evaluate whether they need to refresh their training in this programme, in order to ensure they have the necessary skills and knowledge to safely deliver a vaccination service. The PSI requires that this training programme is repeated if a pharmacist has not vaccinated in the past 12 months (or influenza season).
Training for the specific vaccine(s) to be administered Available either through the IIOP (influenza, pneumococcal and herpes zoster (shingles) vaccines), or in the case of the COVID-19 vaccines, through HSeLanD.

Influenza training is valid for one year.

Pneumococcal and Herpes Zoster training is valid for two years.
Emergency Medicines
Glyceryl Trinitrate Spray Two years
Salbutamol inhaler Two years
Glucagon Two years
Naloxone Two years

In addition to completing the above training pathway, pharmacists should ensure that they are familiar with the most recent versions of both the NIAC and NIO national guidance documents on management of anaphylaxis. Pharmacists should be aware of updates to relevant national guidance and adapt their practices to reflect the most up to date information.

How can I complete training?

You can find out more information about training and providers on the Irish Institute of Pharmacy (IIOP) website. There you will find details on how to register and complete most of the required training programmes. Many of the training programmes are available online as e-learning programmes, and are free of charge, so you can complete them in your own time. There is a fee associated with the Medicines Administration (Parenteral) (PAMT) training programme which is a blended programme, involving both online and face to face components.

Training on the COVID-19 vaccines is available through HSeLanD- the Health Service Executive's online learning and development portal (NIO training). The HSE has developed this guide for community pharmacists to access HSeLanD training.

What do I need to do each year?

You should review the training requirements for the delivery of the service(s) you wish to provide each year. You should check that your training in each training programme is up-to-date. You should also complete a self-assessment and self-declaration form, which will help you to review the requirements and provide a means for you to attest to your competency to deliver the chosen service(s).

Frequently asked questions

If you have any questions about the training requirements, you can email education@psi.ie.

See also our FAQ sections on COVID-19 and influenza vaccination services.

Related guidance for pharmacists