{"id":1436,"date":"2020-12-22T17:16:33","date_gmt":"2020-12-22T17:16:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/mrc\/?page_id=1436"},"modified":"2025-09-30T13:11:53","modified_gmt":"2025-09-30T13:11:53","slug":"vaccinator","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/mrc\/vaccinator\/","title":{"rendered":"VA MRC Vaccinator Training Information"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Immunization Orientation and Competency Verification Procedure for Non-VDH Employee Vaccinators<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Purpose<\/strong><\/p>\n

The purpose of this document is to outline the procedure for Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) volunteers and other healthcare professionals who provide vaccinations under the auspices of the Virginia Department of Health (VDH).<\/p>\n

Background<\/strong><\/p>\n

Proper vaccine administration is vital for preventing many common, vaccine-preventable diseases. Vaccine administration errors may result in the need to revaccinate patients, missed opportunities to prevent communicable diseases, and the potential for significant financial loss due to wasted vaccines. Furthermore, since public health entities are considered \u201cgold standards\u201d of vaccination knowledge and techniques, inappropriate vaccine administration can result in damage to the public\u2019s confidence in vaccine effectiveness and the reputation of the health department.<\/p>\n

Applicability<\/strong><\/p>\n

This procedure is applicable to all non-VDH employee vaccinators, including MRC volunteers (RNs, NPs, LPNs, pharmacists, physician assistants, and physicians), nursing students, and Emergency Medical System (EMS) staff. All individuals who function in the capacity of vaccinators for VDH serve under the supervision of fully trained public health nurses who have completed the VDH immunization training or a contract\/volunteer immunization nurse who has completed training and has been trained by the district nurse manager, Immunization Action Plan (IAP) Coordinator or their designee. Vaccinators who receive vaccines purchased by the Office of Emergency Preparedness for closed Points of Dispensing (POD) operations that are not supervised by a fully trained VDH public health nurse or contractor\/volunteer designee, will be responsible for cold chain management of the vaccine, responding to emergency events at the POD, and entering data into the Virginia Immunization Information System (VIIS).<\/p>\n

Although the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness (PREP) Act is currently in effect that allows certain individuals previously trained to administer COVID-19 and Mpox vaccines, the VDH is advising health districts to only<\/strong> use currently licensed individuals to administer vaccines.<\/p>\n

Medical Reserve Corps Volunteer Vaccinators<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The MRC Coordinator or their designee is responsible for making sure that each MRC volunteer has a current and unencumbered MD, PA, NP, RN, LPN, or Pharmacist license in Virginia.<\/p>\n

Nurses with out-of-state licenses may practice with a current and unencumbered license issued from an Enhanced Nursing licensure compact (eNLC) state<\/a>. States that are members of the eNLC allow nurses in member states to practice physically, electronically and\/or telephonically across a state border in other states that are members of the eNLC. LPNs may provide immunizations under the supervision of an RN.<\/p>\n

The MRC Coordinator or designee must ensure that prior to the start of any work within VDH, all MRC volunteers have:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. A volunteer orientation,<\/li>\n
  2. Passed background investigation,<\/li>\n
  3. A current CPR certification, and<\/li>\n
  4. A current, unencumbered healthcare professional license.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Vaccinators<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    In order for EMS providers to support VDH vaccination clinics, according to \u00a754.1-3408 of the Code of Virginia<\/a>, they must:<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Hold a valid, unrestricted Virginia certification as an Intermediate or Paramedic,<\/li>\n
    2. Be affiliated with the Virginia EMS agency developing the vaccination program,<\/li>\n
    3. Be individually approved by their agency Operational Medical Director (OMD) as a vaccinator, and<\/li>\n
    4. Follow protocols approved by their OMD for vaccine administration.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

       <\/p>\n

      The Virginia EMS Agency, where the EMS provider is affiliated, shall provide confirmation to VDH that the provider meets the requirements above. Virginia EMS providers supporting VDH vaccination clinics must complete the VDH Procedures for Evaluating Immunization Knowledge and Skills Assessment\u00a0Checklist for Vaccinators <\/em>listed below; these procedures are encouraged to be used for their vaccination program and closed POD vaccination efforts.<\/p>\n

      MRC volunteers that are EMS providers can ONLY<\/strong> provide vaccinations under the direction of their EMS Agency and OMD as outlined above. MRC coordinators will NOT<\/strong> be responsible for managing EMS providers as MRC volunteers.<\/p>\n

      \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

      \u00a0<\/strong>Nursing Students as Vaccinators<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

      \u201cNurses comprise the largest healthcare workforce, and opportunities exist to strengthen disaster readiness, enhance national sure capacity, and build community resiliency to disasters.\u201d (Veenema et al., 2016). For this reason, VDH hosts schools of nursing for community health rotations, including nursing students in immunization events to provide an introduction to emergency preparedness, the role of immunization in disease prevention, and epidemiology. Per 18VAC90-27-110<\/a>, \u201cIn accordance with \u00a754.1-3001 of the Code of Virginia, a nursing student, while enrolled in an approved nursing program, may perform tasks that would constitute the practice of nursing.\u201d<\/p>\n

      There are additional requirements for nursing students and their faculty or preceptors, which are outlined in 18VAC90-27-110 and\/or in the VDH Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) that are required of all schools of nursing. Provision of adult <\/strong>immunizations may be included in the MOA; all MOAs preclude the immunization of children.<\/p>\n

      VDH nurses, including volunteers, may serve as preceptors as long as they are licensed at or above the level for which the student is preparing. Some degree programs or schools, however, require the preceptor to be licensed and<\/strong> educationally prepared at or above the level for which the student is preparing.<\/p>\n

      Nursing students are welcome to join a MRC unit, but they are ONLY<\/strong> able to vaccinate when affiliated and supervised by their nursing program. Nursing students must perform the skill in the simulation lab and be checked off by their instructor or preceptor prior to vaccinating under their instructor or preceptor.<\/p>\n

      Pharmacists<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

      In addition to administering a vaccine to a person of any age pursuant to a valid prescription, which directs the pharmacist to administer the vaccine as part of the dispensing process, there are regulations which address pharmacist initiation and administration of immunizations.<\/p>\n

      State regulations:<\/p>\n