On-the-Job Vaccinations: A Blended Approach to Successful Vaccination Delivery

Background and Aims

During the evolving global COVID pandemic, Occupational Health (OH) were tasked with delivering am NHS staff vaccination campaign, to dual-administer influenza and COVID vaccinations.

The project aim was to undertake vaccine roll-out as quickly, efficiently, and safely as possible by  focusing on “on-the-job” vaccinations for acute staff to reduce time away from patient care when:

1. staff absences were at an all-time high and
2. acute areas faced unprecedented pressures

Reviewing and reflecting on previous campaigns proved that easier access to vaccination improves uptake and compliance.

The aim was to deliver a campaign to all eligible staff under Scottish Government and JCVI guidance  with fewer Occupational Health staffing requirements – a reduced need for administrative and clerical staff; nursing assistants for observations; marshalling staff.  We strived for a blended and transformative model approach: with increased flexibility; responding to staff needs effectively; working proactively; taking our skills and knowledge to the acute clinical areas, aligning with the Nursing Vision 2030.

Methodology

Our proposal was agreed through discussions with the Occupational Health team, Corporate Management team and Mass Vaccination and Public Health colleagues to ensure competency.  Our focus was on this new blended approach which involved visiting busy acute wards using a small team of OH staff to co-administer COVID and influenza vaccinations.  The 15 minute observation was carried out by fellow ward colleagues which eliminated the requirements for time off the ward.

Emergency equipment was already present in ward areas and portable equipment was used for registration, consent, and immunisation. 

The OH team also overseen and supported a successful peer vaccination campaign in community settings.  Three community hospitals utilised empty wards and set up in-house static clinics.  Peer vaccinators immunised their own colleagues whilst on duty in these settings.

All other eligible Health and Social Care staff were appointed to static clinics in both acute and community settings, the more traditional approach.

Results

The results speak for themselves and has proven that this blended approach of: Occupational Health vaccinating staff in the acute clinical areas, assisted peer vaccination; and the traditional static clinics works extremely well as we have seen the highest ever uptake of influenza vaccine amongst NHS Ayrshire and Arran staff, and an excellent uptake of the COVID vaccination.

The flexibility worked well for staff, given the pressures of the pandemic, and a bonus was also the reduced need for socially-distanced waiting rooms before and after vaccinations when vaccinating in clinical areas.