Tips for vaccinating patients safely and correctly

Immunisation is recognised as one of the most effective medical interventions in recorded history, and many adult and childhood infectious diseases are preventable with vaccines.¹ Since the introduction of vaccinations the number of deaths from infectious diseases has been greatly reduced.¹ Immunisation programmes have developed considerably over the years, but their complexities has led to an increased number of vaccine errors.²

The UK immunisation programme is delivered in a variety of healthcare settings but the majority of vaccinations are administrated in primary care. The National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) suggests that errors are not merely a result of human error, but that organisational and cultural factors can increase the likelihood of them occurring.³ This article will explore the most recent vaccine errors and discuss support strategies to minimise future risk of these incidents recurring.