Contribute to the reduction of mortality and morbidity in the target area, in particular from vaccine-preventable diseases, by delivering routine immunisation services to children and to women of childbearing age, in accordance with the national EPI guidelines, the WHO and UNICEF protocols and the INTERSOS procedures.
The Vaccinator administers vaccines, maintains the cold chain, keeps accurate immunisation records, raises community awareness and follows up defaulters, working in the health facility and with the Mobile Health Team.
2. Tasks and responsibilities
Delivery of immunisation services
• Carry out the EPI activities of the project, in the fixed centre and through outreach and mobile health team activities.
• Administer only the vaccines for which he/she has been trained and assessed as competent, and only after the competency assessment has been recorded by the EPI Officer.
• Screen every child and every woman of childbearing age against the immunisation schedule, check the vaccination card, and administer the doses due.
• Apply injection safety at all times: one sterile syringe and needle for each injection, no recapping, and immediate disposal in the safety box.
• Explain to the caregiver what has been given, the possible minor reactions, and the date of the next dose, and record it on the vaccination card.
• Never request or accept any payment for vaccination. The service is free of charge.
Cold chain and vaccine management
• Transport and store vaccines in accordance with the EPI, UNICEF and WHO protocols.
• Respect the cold chain principles during the transport of vaccines at all times.
• Check the vaccine vial monitor and the expiry date before administering any dose, and discard any vaccine that does not comply, in accordance with the protocol.
• Record the temperature of the cold chain equipment as required, and keep the record available for supervision.
• Where a problem arises in the storage of vaccines, act immediately to transfer them to another location where a functioning cold chain is available, and inform the supervisor without delay.
• Monitor stock levels and expiry dates, limit wastage, and alert the supervisor in advance of any risk of rupture.
Safety and adverse events
• Recognise and manage adverse events following immunisation in accordance with the national protocol, ensure that the anaphylaxis kit is available and within its expiry date before any session begins, and keep the patient under observation as required.
• Report every adverse event following immunisation to the EPI Officer and to the Medical Doctor without delay, and record it.
• Apply infection prevention and control and the correct management of immunisation waste, including sharps, both in the health facility and in the mobile health team.
Community awareness, coverage and defaulter tracing
• Raise awareness in the community and encourage caregivers to vaccinate their children and women of childbearing age.
• Contribute to the extension of vaccination coverage in the catchment area and to the reduction of the defaulter rate.
• Follow up the completed cases to confirm that the vaccination schedule has been completed, and identify and trace defaulting and missed children together with the Community Health Workers.
• Participate in new EPI programmes and in public awareness campaigns.
Planning, records and reporting
• Contribute to the preparation of an accurate working plan for the field activities of the Mobile Health Team.
• Complete the tally sheets, registers and vaccination cards accurately and on the same day. No eligible child or woman is left unregistered, and no figure is adjusted in order to influence a reported indicator.
• Know and work towards the annual and monthly EPI indicators of the project.
• Report to the supervisor any problem encountered in the delivery of services, and any error or near miss occurring in the field activities of the mobile team.
Conduct and compliance
• Treat every caregiver, child and community member with respect and without discrimination.
• Maintain the confidentiality of the information recorded in the course of the activity.
• Comply with the INTERSOS Charter of Values, Code of Ethics, the Policy for the Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA), the Safeguarding Policy and the Anti-Fraud Policy, and report any concern through the established channels.
• Perform any other task related to the function of the position, as assigned by the supervisor.
