Consent for vaccinations by health care workers

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has recently issued guidance regarding consent for vaccination by non-registered health care service workers (HCSW)- mainly Health Care Assistants in general practice.

This clarifies that where a HCSW is providing a vaccine under a Patient Specific Direction, which is the normal practice in a GP influenza or covid vaccination clinic, then the HCSW cannot gain consent, and this must be done by a registered healthcare professional (GP or Nurse).

Detailed information can be found in these documents:

The BMA has confirmed that informed consent can be gained by a healthcare professional in advance of a vaccination clinic.

Dr Dhanji (Deputy CEO LMC and Vaccination Lead) has written a step-by-step guide to using AccuRx to collect consent in advance.

Last Updated on 29 January 2026