About the COVID-19 Vaccination programme

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused millions of infections and hundreds of thousands of deaths across the world. Numerous measures have been taken to try to contain the virus and prevent infection but ultimately, the most effective way to stop the pandemic will be the introduction of an efficacious vaccine. Scientists across the world have worked rapidly to develop an effective vaccine. Now it is crucial that the COVID-19 vaccine is safely delivered to as many of those eligible as possible. 

This COVID-19 Vaccination e-learning programme is designed to provide the health and care workforce involved in the national COVID-19 vaccination programme with the knowledge they need to confidently promote high uptake of the vaccine and deliver the vaccine programme effectively. 

The e-learning sessions describe the national COVID-19 vaccination programme for England. Most of the information in the sessions will be relevant for those involved in the programme throughout the UK and Crown Dependencies. However, those undertaking the programme in Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and the Crown Dependencies should be aware that some details as to how the programme will be delivered may be different. Vaccinators should therefore ensure that they refer to any country-specific information available so they are familiar with the particular details of the programme for the country in which they are practising. 

To access the COVID-19 Vaccination e-learning programme select this link: https://portal.e-lfh.org.uk/Component/Details/675208

To access information about updates to the e-learning select this link: https://www.e-lfh.org.uk/covid-19-vaccination-e-learning-updates/

All vaccinators

The programme consists of a core knowledge session, the COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine BNT162b2 Pfizer-BioNTech session, the COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca session and accompanying assessment sessions for each. All those undertaking this e-learning should complete the core knowledge session as this is designed to provide essential knowledge about COVID-19 and the key principles of immunisation needed to deliver the vaccine. Learners should then complete both vaccine specific sessions as these provide more detailed information including how the vaccine works, how it should be stored, prepared and administered and any contraindications, precautions and potential vaccine reactions. The assessment sessions should be completed after each knowledge session. 

COVID-19 Vaccine Moderna vaccinators

The COVID-19 Vaccine Moderna is now available. Currently the national vaccination programme is only deploying this vaccine to a limited group of vaccination centres. Staff who are rostered to work at these sites are asked to complete the core knowledge session as this is designed to provide essential knowledge about COVID-19 and the key principles of immunisation needed to deliver the vaccine. Learners should then complete the vaccine-specific e-learning session and assessment in advance. Staff working in PCN sites and Hospital Hub settings are not required to complete the training at this time but may want to access it at a future date. In addition, further information about the vaccine characteristics can be viewed via Chapter14a in the Green Book and the Summary of Product Characteristics for COVID-19 Vaccine Moderna (SmPC).

More information

This e-learning programme provides theoretical training. Those new to, or returning to vaccination after a prolonged period, will also require face to face practical training in vaccine administration and assessment and competency sign-off before administering the COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccinators should also have completed Basic Life Support and anaphylaxis training and any Statutory and Mandatory training required by their employer.

More information and training resources about the COVID-19 vaccine programme are available on the Public Health England website COVID-19 vaccination programme page.

More information and training resources relating to the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine BNT162b2 are available here: https://www.cvdvaccine.co.uk/

Information and training resources for supporting e-rostering and deployment are available here: https://www.allocatesoftware.co.uk/lp/vaccine/

Additional training for vaccinators

Important: COVID-19 vaccinators should check with their local provider/employer whether they need to undertake the additional training identified below.

Immunisation – Legal Aspects https://portal.e-lfh.org.uk/Component/Details/514308

Immunisation – Vaccine Storage https://portal.e-lfh.org.uk/Component/Details/514237

Immunisation – Vaccine Administration https://portal.e-lfh.org.uk/Component/Details/514227

Introduction to Anaphylaxis  https://portal.e-lfh.org.uk/Component/Details/675634

Recognising and Managing Anaphylaxis https://portal.e-lfh.org.uk/Component/Details/429354

Statutory and Mandatory Training (SMT) https://portal.e-lfh.org.uk/Component/Details/458587

Reasonable adjustments

Communicating effectively with people about the vaccine, and providing the right support and reasonable adjustments, is essential to making the vaccination process accessible to everyone. Meeting people’s individual needs potentially reduces the health inequalities experienced by disabled people and can enable more satisfactory outcomes for both parties. Read this short Top Tips guide for vaccination staff working with people with a learning disability, autism or both https://www.england.nhs.uk/learning-disabilities/improving-health/reasonable-adjustments/  

Treat me well: Asking for reasonable adjustments 

This short film is part of Mencap’s Treat Me Well campaign and describes the reasonable adjustments to which people with a learning disability are entitled. 

How to access

In order to access the COVID-19 Vaccination programme, you will need an e-LfH account. If you do not have one, then you can register by selecting the Register button below.

Register >

To view the COVID-19 Vaccination programme, select the View button below. If you already have an account with e-LfH, you will also be able to login and enrol on the programme from the View button.

View >

NHS healthcare staff in England

The COVID-19 Vaccination programme is also available to NHS healthcare staff via the Electronic Staff Record (ESR). Accessing this e-Learning via ESR means that your completions will transfer with you throughout your NHS career.

Further details are available here.

Organisations wishing to use their own LMS

For HR departments wanting to know more about gaining access to courses using an existing Learning Management System please contact e-LfH directly to express interest.

More information

Please select the following link for more information on how to use the e-LfH Hub.