What consideration has the Welsh Government given to any risks associated with failing to aspirate (pull back the plunger on the syringe) prior to injecting the COVID-19 vaccine into patients in Wales?
All COVID-19 vaccinations in the UK are administered as intramuscular injections into the deltoid muscle in accordance with the manufacturer’s summary of product characteristics and the advice of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) contained in the Green Book.
Advice on immunisation technique contained in chapter 4 of the Green Book, states that “it is not necessary to aspirate the syringe after it is introduced into a muscle” - this is because aspiration does not confirm correct needle placement and a rapid intramuscular injection technique without aspiration is less painful for people being vaccinated.
Before administering a COVID-19 vaccine, vaccinators in Wales must complete mandatory training developed by Public Health Wales. In addition to mandatory e-learning modules, training materials include a series of core training webinars and practical training videos available to all vaccinators. Vaccinators must also be assessed as competent in the appropriate injection technique prior to commencing vaccination.