Legal considerations for safe vaccine administration in the UK

The UK has a robust routine vaccination programme covering 18 different diseases, including the six-in-one vaccine given to children, vaccines against seasonal influenza and targeted strategies in response to emerging threats, such as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This article discusses the legal and governance considerations required for safe vaccine administration. For the nurse, these include obtaining consent from the patient or their representative; considering their professional duty of care; and observing the three As – the vaccinator’s ability, accountability and authorisation. The authors hope the article will contribute to nurses’ knowledge of vaccination, assist them to reflect on their practice and improve their confidence in the legal and governance requirements for safe vaccination.