RCOTSS Work National Executive Committee response: can and should OTs in occupational health settings deliver vaccinations?

Many thanks for raising your concerns regarding occupational therapists administering vaccinations. The RCOTSS Work National Executive Committee has discussed this issue, and we have agreed to the following response in support of your situation:

The Royal College of Occupational Therapists National Executive Committee for the Specialist Section – Work have discussed the employer request for one of our members to undertake vaccinations. We have agreed that the skills of occupational therapists are not optimally utilised in this kind of task as 'the core skills of an occupational therapist is the focus on the assessment of occupational needs and the facilitation of occupational performance/engagement'. Whilst RCOT does not overtly preclude OTs from delivering vaccinations, it is clear that this isn't in our core scope of practice.

The NEC agreed that the skills of occupational therapists are not optimally utilised in this kind of task. They also raised concerns that administering vaccinations is not part of our training. Therefore, it was felt that nurses or perhaps HCAs are better placed clinically, and are more cost-effective, than occupational therapists.

This RCOT guidance was published in response to OTs being asked to give vaccinations in the Covid-19 pandemic and is relevant to this discussion. "The HCPC has a very broad understanding of 'practicing your profession' as 'drawing on your professional skills and/or knowledge in the course of your work". They go on to emphasise that "the practitioner must make a personal decision about whether they are doing this".

To summarise, we feel that although not entirely unreasonable for an OT to give vaccinations, it certainly isn't a core skill of occupational therapists. It is ultimately a personal choice for each OT to decide whether this task falls within their scope of practice and "practicing their profession".

We do hope that this response is useful.

We welcome any further feedback and discussion on this relevant and important topic with any of our members.