Timely education and resources are essential for both new and existing vaccine providers to immunize safely and competently. The complete BCCDC immunization competency course is routinely recommended for all new vaccine providers. In the context of the global pandemic, an expedited immunization competency education process is available for those who will be administering COVID-19 vaccines only so vaccines can be administered in a timely manner.

Nurses (RNs, RPNs, LPNs): nurses may administer COVID-19 vaccines under an order or without an order (autonomous practice).

Nurses immunizing for COVID-19 without an order:

• Nurses who HAVE recently completed the BCCDC Immunization Competency Course
• BCCDC COVID-19 Immunization Webinars 
  
• COVID-19 Vaccine Overview
  
• COVID-19 mRNA Vaccines
  
• Dry Ice Handling Safety Training (for staff required to handle dry ice)
• Nurses who HAVE NOT completed the BCCDC Immunization Competency Course
  
• BCCDC COVID-19 Immunization Competency Course (2 hours)
  
• Anaphylaxis Initial Emergency Treatment by Nurses (Adult and Pediatric) course in LearningHub (45 minutes). This course is a requirement for LPNs.
  
• Dry Ice Handling Safety Training (for staff required to handle dry ice) (20 minutes)
  
• Completion of the COVID-19 Immunization Skills Checklist with the employer (e.g., supervisor)
  
• All nurses are required to follow the Decision Support Tools (BC Immunization Manual) with a particular focus on Part 3 - Management of Anaphylaxis in a Non-Hospital Setting and the COVID-19 vaccine specific information contained in Part 4 - Biological Products: 
  
  • Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine
    
  • Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine
    
  • COVID-19 Vaccine Screening Checklist
    
  • Resources for the public:
    
  • COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine Healthfile (interim)
    
  • COVID-19 Vaccine After Care Sheet

Nurses immunizing for COVID-19 with an order do not require additional education.

• Although additional education is not required for nurses administering immunizations with an order, completion of the educational resources listed above are strongly encouraged.
  
• Refer to the BC Immunization Manual for best practice guidelines to direct the provision of immunization services, with a particular focus on the COVID-19 vaccine specific resources contained in Part 4: Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, COVID-19 Vaccine Screening Checklist, COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine Healthfile (Interim), COVID-19 Vaccine After Care Sheet
  

Healthcare providers who have previously completed the BCCDC Immunization Competency Course are recommended to complete the following webinars on LearningHub:‎

• BCCDC COVID-19 Immunization Webinars
• COVID-19 Vaccine Overview
• COVID-19 mRNA Vaccines
  
• Refer to the BC Immunization Manual best practice guidelins for the delivery of immunization services with a particular focus on Part 3 - Management of Anaphylaxis in a Non-Hospital Setting and the COVID-19 vaccine specific information contained in Part 4 - Biological Products: 
• Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine
  
• Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine
  
• COVID-19 Vaccine Screening Checklist
  
• Resources for the public:
  
• COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine Healthfile (interim)
  
• COVID-19 Vaccine After Care Sheet

The Public Health Agency of Canada's current and upcoming webinars with regard to COVID-19 vaccination can be accessed on the Association of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Disease Canada website.